A Love Song

As the clock of life ticks by, many of us begin to look back on our lives in terms of the opportunities we pursued and the regrets we hold over those we didn't. Those are the primary themes explored in writer-director Max Walker-Silverman's debut feature about a pair of childhood friends (Dale Dickey, Wes Studi) who reunite after many years apart at a remote Colorado campground. Their time together gives them a chance to reflect upon their lives, their memories and the loves they both lost. But where do they go from here now that they've reconnected? This tender, bittersweet arm's-length romance has its moments of humor, compassion and joyful reunion, as well as its elements of stilted awkwardness and protracted hesitation, reflecting the ambiguity the two principals are feeling after their long separation. It makes for some interesting dynamics set against the beautifully photographed backdrop of the Western wilderness. However, despite these strengths, the script feels a little thin with an underdeveloped narrative and back story, issues that are slightly exacerbated by the picture's slow but tolerable pacing. While it's true this offering proves that a film doesn't always need a complex, densely packed screenplay chock full of dramatic heft to be effective, it nevertheless seems that "A Love Song" could have benefitted from a little more substance. Still, this one has its merits, having deservedly earned Independent Spirit Award nominations for Dickey's lead performance and as a candidate for the competition's John Cassavettes Award. This is the kind of film that makes a good choice for a cozy weekend afternoon while curled up on the couch, and, thankfully, its economical 1:21:00 runtime is just long enough to make it enjoyable without becoming tedious - a nice little diversion without becoming tiresome.

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

The story is about two childhood sweethearts, both now widowed, share a night by a lake in the mountains. The narrative isn't anything special as we have seen similar stories like this presented in the past years of cinema. But due to Max Walker-Silverman's direction, the movie was still able to feel natural and touching at the same time. Silverman was able to keep the movie afloat with beautiful camerawork and some really good sound design. It makes the audience really feel like they are outside of the hills.

Actors Dale Dicky and Wes Studi in my opinion are some of the most underrated actors. Dicky and Studi's chemistry both help to keep the characters engaging with their performances helping to build their purpose. The nice atmosphere and soundtrack provided help to keep the movie like a melody. Storywise, it isn't anything special but I was still able to connect with this movie.

Rating: B.

This is a melancholy, impressionistic movie about aging, loss, and the mystery of solitude. While the story line is simple and thin, the handful of characters who inhabit it convey the ambiguity and uneasiness of real life so naturalistically that it almost feels like a documentary. Not all viewers will be interested in experiencing this level of lonely introspection set amid the stark barrenness of the American west, waiting for "something to happen." But another type of viewer will find the relative wildness of the setting calming, reminding us of our own actual journeys and mental escapes into the almost incomprehensibly large landscape of this part of the country--a place where you can be both undisturbed and nearly forgotten. And in this movie the landscape itself seems to be an inquisitor, stripping bare civilized pretensions and routines with the oppressive gravity of solitude and unlimited time. Aside from being drawn with laughably impossible mechanical skills, the lead female character comes across as both frighteningly realistic and distinctly unappealing. Though she shows positive traits like self-sufficiency, curiosity, and generosity, she also seems uncomfortable in her own skin--making the viewer squirm and wonder if she's always been this way or whether grief and advancing age have made her so tense and enigmatic. The pacing and feel of the thing is so sober and bare-bones that it's surprising to find a touch of Wes Anderson in some of the incidental characters who momentarily break the silence.

While the cinematography showed nice views the picture was not that great. However, this film absolute blew me away; each scene was special! If you are not looking for action then please check out this film (if you are expecting action then this is not the film for you). It moves at a snails pace throughout while the set never much really changes. If you don't like camping then go watch this movie instead;)

This flick caught my eye. The limited dialogue somewhat makes you want to keep watching to see where it is going. The director does an excellent job with the scenery in Colorado.

If you happen to be an RVer or a camper, this will get your attention as well. There are millions of campers out there in travel trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes, you name it. The price ranges could be from a few hundred dollars to a million or more.

Dale Dickey plays the part excellently. You immediately feel for her. Limited money, drinking warm beer, fishing for food and seemingly down on her luck, but up on her hope for something special that just might happen. A "flame" from the past.

The actors are good, and the set ups are perfectly aligned to the story line.

The brothers and little sister are an interesting attempt - I think - at a little comedy. It did make me smile, and her directed them with the motor as the transferred it was a nice touch. A side story line or two was needed, and this certainly did the trick.

In the end, what happens with love. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it does not.

I gave this film 8 starts, because 1. I liked it. 2. Good directing and good acting and 3. Good filmography and scenery. This director will get bigger budget films soon, I am sure.

Will I watch it again. I just might, to see what I might have done differently in the filming and timing of certain scenes.

I give it a thumbs up for sure. Enjoy! Rod.