Shadows on the Wall | Rebuilding

Rebuilding

dir-scr Max Walker-Silverman
prd Jesse Hope, Dan Janvey, Paul Mezey
with Josh O'Connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, Amy Madigan, Jefferson Mays, Zeilyanna Martinez, Dwight Mondragon, Sam Engbring, David Bright, Nancy Morlan, Kathy Rose
release US 14.Nov.25,
UK 17.Apr.26
25/US 1h36

SUNDANCE FILM FEST

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Sensitive and introspective filmmaking continually adds thoughtful angles to this story about people forced to start their lives over. Anchored by a wonderfully open-handed performance by Josh O'Connor, the film is written and directed skilfully by Max Walker-Silverman to find wider resonance in earthy humour and astute observations. While it gets a bit mopey, the film is a warm, honest story that quietly highlights important issues along the way.

After losing his legacy ranch in a wildfire, Colorado cattle farmer Dusty (O'Connor) moves into emergency temporary housing and works to maintain his connections with his young daughter Callie-Rose (LaTorre), ex-wife Ruby (Fahy) and her mother Bess (Madigan). With few options, he considers relocating to a friend's ranch in Montana, but worries about how both Ruby and Callie-Rose will react to the idea. Indeed, Ruby thinks it sounds lonely. Meanwhile in the housing camp, Dusty befriends a group of colourful fellow refugees including Mila (Reis) and her daughter Lucy (Martinez), who quickly befriends Callie-Rose.

With generations of his family's heritage gone, Dusty has a glimmer of hope that he'll be able to reconstruct what was lost, but it's clear that the odds aren't in his favour. Still, he finds moments of purpose and unexpected ways to reconstruct his memories and move forward, building on the foundation of a father-daughter relationship. Clever touches abound, from he and Callie-Rose use the library's wifi signal to the plot's gently uplifting final-act resolution.

With a vivid sense of likeable vulnerability, O'Connor infuses Dusty with an open emotionality. He's a young guy struggling with the reality that everything he always knew about his life has changed. And he creates a softly beautiful camaraderie with LaTorre, who is is superbly understated as the bright, resilient Callie-Rose. Fahy, Reis and Madigan are also excellent in nuanced smaller roles that have surprising moments of their own.

The plot intersperses involving dramatic scenes with several dark events, as life throws continual challenges at these characters. Ruby can see that the fire has left Dusty feeling like nothing, but she also knows that to Callie-Rose, her dad seems reborn. So because we see much of what happens through Callie-Rose's knowing eyes, watching Dusty connect with the others who share his experience is thoroughly engaging. This makes where the story goes strongly moving on a variety of levels.

themes, language 27.Dec.25

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