Engbring

Afterunhitchinghercamperatalakesideinthemountains,Fayefindsherrhythmcookingmeals,retrievingcrawfishfromatrap,andscanningheroldboxradioforastation.Shelooksexpectantlyattheapproachofacarorthemailman,explainingtoneighboringcampersthatshe’swaitingforachildhoodsweetheartshehasn’tseenindecades.Whenhedoesarrive,LitoandFaye,bothwidowed,spendaneveningreminiscingabouttheirlives,losses,andloneliness.Awhimsicalromance,MaxWalker-Silverman’scaptivatingdebutfeatureshowsan"AmericanWest"fullofquietude,compassion,andintrospection.It’sbothnaturalisticandvaguelysurreal,blurringoursenseoftimeandbeauty,lossandvivacity,thegrandiosenaturalworldandintimatehumanism.CareerperformancesfromDaleDickeyandWesStudibringaninescapablepresencetopeoplewedon’toftenseeportrayedonfilm.Theyaregentleoutlierspossessedofresilienceandexistentialspirit,seekingtoprocesssomethingelusive:afeelingofloveforwhat’snolongerthere.LikeFayeturningherradiodial,theylistenhopefullyforthefainttraceofasong.