Meek's Cutoff

Hi Elizabeth,

Tonight we saw a really good movie at CSUN : "Meek's Cutoff", a Western directed by a woman named Kelly Reichardt. She is a relatively new filmmaker and her take on the Western genre was both traditional (settlers crossing the land in covered wagons) and fresh (her focus on female characters). The cinematography was gorgeous, and everything about the film was excellent, really. But then came the ending, and even though we were warned about it by the Professor, I still felt let down.

I just don't understand why modern indie filmmakers find it so hard to have something resembling a proper ending to their story. It is not fair to say, "the ending is up to the audience".

No it's not up to the audience! That's why we're the audience, precisely because we are not involved in the creation of the film. We are there to watch it, and like an audience for any art form, we expect a story in some sense of the word. I have no problem with obscure storylines in movies, but the thing with "Meek's" is that is does have a traditional story as the film progresses, which happens from point to point, event to event as the settlers try to cross from Utah to Oregon in 1845. So the movie is straightforward as a story, and it is extremely well made, but then........

......she just pulls the plug on you. I find that to be either high-handed by the director, or just plain lazy.

Anyhow, I would still recommend the film, just because it's so well done, and beautiful to look at. Maybe just don't watch it to the end, lol.

I hope all is well.  xoxoxoxoxoxoox  :):)