Prairie Love

"Prairie Love" is just the kind of movie I relish; the characters are the story, nothing was predictable, and the setting was so prominent that it was basically another character in the film.

As for camera work, the shots and angles matched the scenes beautifully. There was also this cool steampunk feel to the machinery. I'm not going to go into the story because I don't want to spoil a thing. I had no clue what it was about when I began. That turned out to be a big plus -- I was delighted at every turn.

Great editing and photography helped keep things riveting. Notice the askew angle of the snowline after "the act." You will know what I mean when you see it.

I'd have liked more backstory on "The Girl" to know why she was in trouble. We get a hint of that when she says hello and goodbye to parts of a dear, but we never really do know where she is coming from the way we do the others.

But, still, that's okay. We sure know who she is later on.

If you like Coen brothers-type pacing, getting to know characters and giving them time to reveal, and you have the patience to watch stories unfold, I couldn't recommend "Prairie Love" more highly.

I was pleasantly surprised with this film I was able to view thanks to a Film Movement DVD. Great, subtle acting, excellent cinematography, and an unpredictable and quirky story that ranks right up there with the Coen Brothers. Its pacing is slow in a way that only indie film fans will find tolerable, and there's plenty left unsaid that leaves the viewer guessing about motivations and backstories, but as a point-in-time film about characters and circumstances, it's an intriguing film worth the effort it requires. In the 12 years since its release, it doesn't look like the director or actors have had a lot of other film projects, which is a shame as everything about this film is well done.