Rebuilding

We all read about the trials and tribulations endured by the survivors of natural disasters, but rarely do we get to witness what it’s like to go through them on a daily basis. Moreover, it’s even rarer to see such happenings movingly portrayed on the big screen. Which is what helps to make this second feature outing from writer-director Max Walker-Silverman not only a fine piece of filmmaking, but also such an unexpectedly touching cinematic experience. When Colorado cowboy Dusty Fraser (Josh O’Connor) loses virtually everything in a wildfire, he’s left to pick up the pieces as he faces an uncertain future. The ranch that has been in his family for generations is decimated, leaving him with just the land on which it stood. But, given the scorched earth left in the disaster’s wake, it’s essentially going to be a decade before the land can once again realistically be used as a working property. So, as he assesses his options financially and logistically, the unassuming, soft-spoken rancher moves into a FEMA camp and takes a job as a road construction worker, but that’s not what he wants nor who he is. At the same time, he also attempts to rebuild his fractured relationship with his young daughter, Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre), who lives with Dusty’s ex-wife, Ruby (Meghann Fahy), her new partner, Robbie (Sam Engbring), and her doting grandmother, Bess (Amy Madigan). It’s a full plate for Dusty to deal with, conditions that might easily overwhelm most of us, especially when hope seems like a rare commodity. However, through this ordeal, Dusty discovers an unexpected support network to help him get past his challenges and setbacks. This includes not only his ex-wife and mother-in-law, but also the new “family” he finds among his neighbors in the FEMA camp, most notably a recently widowed young mother, Mila (Independent Spirit Award nominee Kali Reis), and her daughter, Lucy (Zeilyanna Martiniez), who becomes Callie-Rose’s new bestie. The result is a heartwarming tale of people reaching out to help one another in a spirit of compassion and fellowship, the kind of moving, uplifting story we can all use more of these days. While the narrative might arguably come across as somewhat formulaic (perhaps even a bit predictable), it nevertheless feels real throughout, never manipulative, phony or the least bit forced. Those qualities are bolstered by the fine performances of the capably assembled cast (especially LaTorre in a noteworthy supporting role), the picture’s gorgeous depictions of the Western landscape and the film’s stirring score. Regrettably, cynical viewers might find this release a little on the corny side, but, considering how genuine this one feels (more so than I ever anticipated going in), that sense of authenticity shows just how badly we need a story like this in today’s trying times. “Rebuilding” has flown somewhat under the radar thus far, but it’s a film that deserves an audience, a picture that fills us with the kind of inspiration and goodwill that we could use both during this festive season and all throughout the year.

Martin Oaks

**Ashes, community, and resilience** A poignant neo-western written and directed by Max Walker-Silverman—a filmmaker with a lean filmography who here tackles the social aftermath of a devastating wildfire through a slow-burning feature film about loss, working-class dignity, and the rebuilding of community ties. All of this is set against the unforgiving rural landscapes of the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, where Dusty’s century-old ranch is razed by flames in one of the multiple fires taking hold of America's most neglected territories. Having lost his property and lacking the financial leverage to secure bank loans, Dusty is forced to resettle in an austere, temporary trailer camp managed by a federal agency. Truth be told, the plot does not dwell on the ecological catastrophe and its socio-political context, but rather on the subsequent collective interaction and the overcoming of grief—that is, inner healing through community; the shifting dynamics of a family unit fractured by divorce and an absent father; and the peculiar ecosystem of the locals as essential figures of emotional support. Their deep roots in the land and the acceptance of a new, irreversible reality force them all to redefine the concept of "home," guiding the narrative toward a humanistic fable about collective resilience in the face of systemic desolation. "Rebuilding" aims to steer clear of depressing melodrama, turning instead into a deeply luminous, tender, and optimistic testament to human nature. The heart of the film lies in Josh O'Connor’s monumental, introspective performance, while young Lily LaTorre injects the footage with a pure vitality that is perfectly complemented by a supporting cast. Together, they shape a mosaic of endearing individuals who dignify the spirit of the most modest and vulnerable social strata.