Synopsis
Kelly Reichardt once again trains her perceptive and patient eye on the Pacific Northwest, this time evoking an authentically hardscrabble early nineteenth century way of life. A taciturn loner and skilled cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) also seeking his fortune; soon the two collaborate on a successful business, although its longevity is reliant upon the clandestine participation of a nearby wealthy landowner’s prized milking cow. From this simple premise Reichardt constructs an interrogation of foundational Americana that recalls her earlier triumph Old Joy in its sensitive depiction of male friendship, yet is driven by a mounting suspense all its own. Reichardt again shows her distinct talent for depicting the peculiar rhythms of daily living and ability to capture the immense, unsettling quietude of rural America.
Filmmaker
Kelly Reichardt
She is one of the essential references of recent North American independent cinema. Her debut feature, River of Grass, was selected at Sundance and nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards. Since then, she has directed seven feature films, selected at all the major festivals, which have made her one of the most relevant authors of today, with stories that move away from big cities and speak of intimate relationships between people and their environments.
Filmography: First Cow (2019), Owl (curt, 2019), Certain Women (2016), Night Moves (2013), Meek's Cutoff (2010), Wendy y Lucy (2008), Old Joy (2006), Then a Year (curt, 2001), Ode (migmetratge, 1999), River of Grass (1994)
