By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Olivia Silver
Starring: John Hawkes | Kendall Toole | Mary Pat Gleason | Ryan Simpkins | Ty Simpkins
Country: united_states
Year: 2013
Running time: 91
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2056520/combined
Thom says: “Rarely does Film Movement introduce a film with a major actor like John Hawkes but the film did win the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and certainly deserves a wider audience. This one is a family ‘Road Film’ that follows a father, Tom, (an on-edge, off-putting Hawkes, in another of his expert renderings) and his three children crossing the country in a beat-up station wagon heading to Arcadia, California from the East Coast with his wife mysteriously missing. His children are Greta, a young teen who still carries around with her at all times a dirty stuffed animal, recent high school graduate Caroline who seems the most grounded of the quartet, and youngster Nat who is off in his own world.
“Since Tom is the only one that knows what has happened to his wife the cross-country trip is one of many recriminations, screw-ups, questions, and hysterics. Tom, not the worst of dads, is nonetheless constantly edgy and flares up at the drop of a hat. Tom has a new job and unfurnished house awaiting them in Arcadia but his family is less than thrilled at the prospects, especially young Greta who constantly is asking the whereabouts of her mom. Tom keeps telling them that the wife will join them in California, but it’s obvious there is more going on.
“While lovingly filmed and played it’s ineffective at times and truthfully I rather more enjoyed the 20-minute short, LITTLE CANYON that this film was adapted from. Still the sincere quality of the film goes far in lending it credence. 4 cats”