Film Journal #116 - Kelly Reichardt’s “Meek’s Cutoff” (2010)
Hands down the best film I’ve seen of 2011. While it technically premiered in 2010, “Meek’s Cutoff” has only recently seen exhibition outside of the festival circuit. This is minimal filmmaking at its finest. The story focuses on a group of settlers in 1840s Oregon as they search for water. The tension builds and burns like a slow powder keg amongst the backdrop of a breathtakingly photographed rural landscape. Reichardt’s direction and editing are inspiring, making the best use of a cross dissolve I’ve ever seen.
