REBUILDING
(director/writer: Max Walker-Silverman; cinematographer: Alfonso Herrera Salcedo; editors: Jane Rizzo, Ramzi Bashour; music: James Elkington, Jake Xerxes Fussell; cast: Josh O’Connor (Dusty), Lily LaTorre (Callie Rose), Meghann Fahy (Ruby), Kali Reis (Mila), Amy Madigan (Grandma Bess), Jefferson Mays (bank loan officer), Dwight Mondragon (rancher neighbor), Binky Griptite (Trailer Resident), Jeanine London (Trailer Resident), Sam Engbring (Robbie), David Bright (Plumber), Nancy Morlan (Gertie), Kathy Rose (Gertie’s lover), Zeilyanna Martinez (Lucy), Christopher Young (Aloof Woodsman Trailer Resident); Runtime: 95; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jesse Hope, Dan Janvey, Paul Mezey; How Hip Films; 2025)
“It’s a well-acted, quiet and tender film, filled with tension.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Colorado-native writer/director Max Walker-Silverman (“A Love Song”) gives us a solid, affecting but underwritten rural drama about the stoic Colorado rancher Dusty (Josh O’Connor, Brit actor) who lost his inherited home in a wildfire that destroyed thousands of homes and has to rebuild his life after devastated by his loss. FEMA funds has him living temporarily in a trailer, as the absent father also previously lost his not completely forgiving wife Ruby (Meghann Fahy) and his lovable 9-year-old daughter Callie Rose (Lily LaTorre, Aussie actress). After their divorce, mother and daughter live in town with her grandma Bess (Amy Madigan). Also, mom has a new boyfriend (Sam Engbring) that we don’t know much about.
Dusty’s new community is with the other suffering wildfire victims, also living in trailers.
One of them is the widow Mila (Kali Reis), whom he connects with while her daughter connects with the visiting Callie. The others include a lesbian couple (Nancy Morlan & Kathy Rose) and a biracial couple (Binky Griptite & Jeanine London).
When the banks turn down Dusty’s requests to build another ranch, he gets a construction job to make ends meet and foregoes his cowboy trip.
It’s a well-acted, quiet and tender film, filled with tension. The gist of the film is with Dusty’s reconciliation with his daughter, as he rebuilds his broken life.
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 5/6/2025 GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com