Lamb (2015 American film)

Last updated

Lamb
Lamb American Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ross Partridge
Written by Ross Partridge
Based onLamb
by Bonnie Nadzam [1]
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyNathan M. Miller
Edited byChristopher Donlon
Music byDaniel Belardinelli
Production
companies
  • The Shot Clock
  • Silent Helicopter
Distributed by The Orchard
Release dates
  • March 14, 2015 (2015-03-14)(SXSW)
  • January 8, 2016 (2016-01-08)(United States)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$30,844 [2]

Lamb is an American drama film, written and directed by Ross Partridge. The film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Bonnie Nadzam. The film stars Ross Partridge, Oona Laurence, Jess Weixler and Tom Bower.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the SXSW film festival on March 14, 2015. [3] The film was released in a limited release on January 8, 2016, before being released through video on demand on January 12, 2016 by The Orchard. [4]

Plot

The film opens with David Lamb visiting his sick and dying father Walter Lamb. After visiting his father, David goes to his motel room, where he is currently living. David's father dies. After attending his father's burial, David ends up in a parking lot "in a particularly depressed-looking corner of Chicago," smoking, where Tommie is sent by her friends to ask David for a cigarette. When asked, David gives her a cigarette, and Tommie shows him her friends. David decides to scare her friends by pretending to kidnap her. He tries to prove a point to her and brings her home.

Back at David's work, his boss, Wilson, gives David his condolences, and insists that David take some time off work. Linny and David make passionate love in the office stairwell, after which David tells Linnie he is going away to his property in the country for a while to clear his head. David runs into Tommie at the parking lot, gives his name as "Gary" and offers to buy her lunch. Back at Tommie's home, her mother Linda, and her mother's boyfriend Jesse, ask where she has been, and Tommie lies, claiming that she was at a friend's house. The next day, Tommie and David hang out again; David asks Tommie to go on a camping trip for a week. He tells her he would bring her back before any one would start to worry. At a hotel, David tells Tommie he wants her to think if she really wants to stay, or go back home. He tells her this might look like a kidnapping due to their age differences so she can leave at any time. Tommie decides to stay.

At a truck stop, Melissa sees Tommie crying. Tommie lies and says her name is "Emily." Tommie tells David she wants to go home; he tells her he could take her home, like he said he would earlier. The next day, David and Tommie hang out by a lake. While there at the lake, Foster, a neighbor of theirs at the cabin, tells the two of them that they are on private property. David lies easily, telling him he's with his niece Emily (aka Tommie). Returning from the mountains, Tommie asks David if she could have a root beer; David asks Tommie to get him a beer; she asks if she can have some of the beer, and he agrees she can have one sip of it. Foster walks into the room, where he sees Tommie holding the beer. David pretends to yell at "Emily", sends her out of the room and apologizes to Foster about what happened. Foster warns David there are unfriendly neighbors nearby who don't like kids. One morning, David notices a car approaching the cabin; he hides Tommie in a closet and tells her not to be seen. The car turns out to be driven by Linny, who came to give David company.

David tells Tommie to run to the 'shop' (a back part of the cabin) quietly as she can. Later that night, Tommie asks David why Linny called him "David" instead of "Gary". He tells her, it's to "protect her/us". While David is talking to Tommie one morning, Linny walks in, and almost catches Tommie. Linny tells David she's going to get mattresses from the other room; David lies, since Tommie is hiding in that room, by telling her a fake ghost story about "Emily". Tommie is seen running from the cabin, to Foster's house. She returns to the outside of cabin and through the window witnesses David and Linny having sex. David notices that Tommie is watching. Outside the house, David/Gary holds Tommie/Emily and tells her a secret - that his younger brother left home and disappeared when he was very young, never coming home again. He makes her promise not to tell anyone, and to always call him "Gary."

Next morning Tommie walks into the cabin living room and calls Gary's name. Linny awakes with fright and wakes David (aka Gary) who claims that the girl is "Emily" who has been sick and has been staying here because of it. As Linny goes to drive away upset, David lies to her that "Emily" is the child of his brother who died and Linny says "you never told me that." He pleads with her to be patient with him but she drives off.

David tells Tommie they are going to head back home. In a motel on the way back he breaks down and cries, saying that Tommie will forget him as she grows older. She put hers hand on his shoulder and says "I won't." Once they arrive at their hometown, the two emotionally say goodbye. They will not see each other again, but he tells her he will leave signs, like a broken window, or a ribbon tied in a strange place so she'll know he's been around, and that when she closes her eyes and remembers the wind and the rain from their trip, she will be like an apple tree standing in the ashes of all the houses in her city.

The film ends with Tommie chasing after David as he drives away.

Cast

Production

In July 2014, it was announced that Ross Partridge would be directing, starring, and writing the film, from Bonnie Nadzam's novel Lamb, with Mel Eslyn and Taylor Williams producing, with Jennifer Lafleur co-producing. [5] That same day, it was announced that Oona Laurence had been cast portraying the role of Tommie, and Jess Weixler had also joined the film. [5] Partridge later revealed in an interview with The New York Times he wanted to adapt the film immediately while reading the book. [6]

Filming

Principal photography began on June 19, 2014, in Denver, Colorado, with additional filming taking place in Laramie, Wyoming. [7] [5] Production on the film lasted 18 days and concluded on July 9, 2014. [8] Jennifer Lafleur revealed in an interview that all her scenes in the film were shot in a single day. [9]

Soundtrack

Lamb
Soundtrack album by
Daniel Belardinelli
ReleasedJanuary 8, 2016
Genre Score
Label MovieScore Media

The soundtrack for the film, titled Lamb: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, featuring the original score by Daniel Berlardinelli, was released via digital download on January 8, 2016, by MovieScore Media. [10]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Lamb : Prelude"2:20
2."Titles"3:55
3."Store"1:41
4."Kidnap"1:20
5."Secret Trip"2:41
6."On The Road"1:51
7."Unfriendly Landowners"1:47
8."The 14th Fence Post"2:53
9."Visiting Foster"1:46
10."Linny's Arrival"1:37
11."Haunted Shed"4:04
12."Linny Leaves"1:47
13."Return to the City"1:19
14."Count to Five"2:24
15."Lamb : Postlude"1:38

Marketing

In November 2015, the first poster for the film was released. [11] In December 2015, the trailer for the film was released exclusively by Apple Trailers. [12] That same month, a clip from the film was released exclusively by IndieWire . [13] In January 2016, The Film Stage released another clip from the film. [14]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the SXSW on March 14, 2015. [3] The film went on to screen at the Sarasota Film Festival, [15] the Montclair Film Festival. [16] the Seattle International Film Festival. [17] and the Torino Film Festival. [18] Shortly after, it was announced The Orchard had acquired distribution rights to the film. [19] The film was given a limited release on January 8, 2016, prior to being released through video on demand on January 12, 2016. [4] [20] In the United States, the Motion Picture Association rated the film R for some disturbing behavior, sexuality and language. [21]

Critical reception

Lamb received positive reviews from film critics. It holds an 82% "Fresh" rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10. [22] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 62 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [23]

Justin Chang of Variety gave the film a positive review, writing: "Partridge navigates risky material with assurance, delicacy and a deepening sense of intimacy that can turn, without warning, into complicity: The more at ease we feel in the characters’ company, the more disturbingly questionable the situation becomes. Superbly shot and movingly acted, especially by young Oona Laurence, this arthouse-ready item should prove a potent conversation-starter at festivals, where even naysayers may be hard pressed to deny the film’s cumulative emotional impact." [1]

Kimber Myers of IndieWire gave the film a positive review, writing: "What’s interesting about Lamb is that it doesn’t stand in judgment of its protagonist; it neither condemns him for what are undeniably bad and illegal choices, nor does it celebrate them either. Though not always successful, this is a complicated film that should cause its audience to continue to think about its characters and the actions they take." [24]

Related Research Articles

Jess Weixler is an American actress. She played Dawn O'Keefe in the comedy horror film Teeth and Jordan in the comedy The Big Bad Swim.

<i>Baghead</i> 2008 American film

Baghead is a 2008 comedy horror film written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass. The film stars Ross Partridge, Elise Muller, Greta Gerwig, and Steve Zissis. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2008. The film was given a limited release by Sony Pictures Classics on July 13, 2008.

<i>Tiny Furniture</i> 2010 American film

Tiny Furniture is a 2010 American comedy-drama film written, directed by, and starring Lena Dunham. The film premiered at South by Southwest, where it won the award for Best Narrative Feature, screened at such festivals as Maryland Film Festival, and was released theatrically in the United States on November 12, 2010. Dunham plays Aura, an aimless, jilted film school graduate who returns home on what she hopes is a temporary basis. Dunham’s mother, artist Laurie Simmons, plays Aura’s mother, while her real sibling, Cyrus Grace Dunham, plays Aura’s on-screen sister. The actors Jemima Kirke and Alex Karpovsky would also appear in Dunham's television series Girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Partridge</span> American actor

Ross Partridge is an American actor, director, screenwriter and producer.

Jennifer Prediger is New York City–based actress, writer, and director known for the films Uncle Kent (2011), Red Flag (2012), and Apartment Troubles (2014)—her directorial debut with collaborator Jess Weixler. Prediger also played and wrote Ask Umbra, the "world's most trusted eco advice columnist," on Grist.org.

<i>Starlet</i> (film) 2012 film

Starlet is a 2012 independent drama film directed by Sean Baker and starring Dree Hemingway and newcomer Besedka Johnson. Starlet explores the unlikely friendship between 21-year-old Jane and 85-year-old Sadie, two women whose lives intersect in California's San Fernando Valley.

<i>Song to Song</i> 2017 American film

Song to Song is a 2017 American experimental romantic drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring an ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, and Cate Blanchett.

<i>6 Years</i> 2015 American film

6 Years is a 2015 American romantic drama film written and directed by Hannah Fidell and starring Taissa Farmiga, Ben Rosenfield, Lindsay Burdge, Joshua Leonard, Peter Vack, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. Filmmakers Mark and Jay Duplass served as executive producers under their Duplass Brothers Productions banner. The film depicts two weeks in the relationship of college students Melanie Clark and Dan Mercer, as their 6-year romance turns violent.

<i>The Midnight Swim</i> 2014 American film

The Midnight Swim is a 2014 POV drama-mystery and the feature film directorial debut of Sarah Adina Smith. The film had its world premiere on July 27, 2014 at the Fantasia Film Festival and stars Lindsay Burdge, Jennifer Lafleur, and Aleksa Palladino as three half-sisters trying to put their missing mother's affairs in order.

<i>Share</i> (2015 film) 2015 American film

Share is a 2015 American short drama film written and directed by Pippa Bianco, and starring Taissa Farmiga, Keir Gilchrist, Madisen Beaty, and Andre Royo. It follows a teenage girl (Farmiga) as she returns to school after an explicit video of her goes viral online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oona Laurence</span> American actress (born 2002)

Oona Laurence is an American actress. She is best known for the role of Matilda Wormwood in Matilda on Broadway alongside Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, and Sophia Gennusa. She began her career as a New York City-based child actress, with credits in film, theatre, and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Lafleur</span> American actress (born 1979)

Jennifer Lafleur is an American actress. She is known for appearing in the independent films The Do-Deca-Pentathlon (2012), The Pretty One (2013), The Midnight Swim (2014), MAD (2016) and 6 Years (2015). On television, Lafleur has appeared on the HBO series Big Little Lies, Room 104 and Animals., the Showtime series Billions, American Crime on ABC, Married on FX, Chicago Fire on NBC, Workaholics and Review on Comedy Central, Childrens Hospital and Newsreaders on Adult Swim, and Major Crimes on TNT.

<i>Bad Moms</i> 2016 film by Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Bad Moms is a 2016 American comedy film directed and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Jay Hernandez, Annie Mumolo, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Christina Applegate.

<i>World of Tomorrow</i> (film) 2015 American animated short film

World of Tomorrow is an avant-garde animated science fiction short film series written, directed, produced, animated, and edited by Don Hertzfeldt. The series began with World of Tomorrow (2015), which was followed by World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People's Thoughts (2017) and World of Tomorrow Episode Three: The Absent Destinations of David Prime (2020).

<i>Mutual Friends</i> (film) 2013 American film

Mutual Friends is a 2013 American comedy film starring Caitlin FitzGerald, Cheyenne Jackson, Peter Scanavino, Michael Stahl-David, Christina Cole, Jennifer Lafleur, Ross Partridge, Michael Chernus and Vanessa Ray, directed and co-written by Matthew Watts; Amy Higgins, Frank Angones, Jessica Sue Burstein, Craig DiFolco, Ross Partridge and Olivia Silver also co-wrote the film.

<i>Hot Summer Nights</i> (film) 2017 American drama film by Elijah Bynum

Hot Summer Nights is a 2017 American neo-noir coming-of-age crime drama film written and directed by Elijah Bynum, in his directorial debut. It stars Timothée Chalamet, Maika Monroe, Alex Roe, Maia Mitchell, William Fichtner, Thomas Jane, and Emory Cohen. Set on Cape Cod in the summer of 1991, the plot follows Daniel Middleton, a teenage boy who becomes entangled in the drug trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Nadzam</span> American writer

Bonnie Nadzam is an American writer. She is a native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

<i>Wild Nights with Emily</i> 2018 American film

Wild Nights with Emily is a 2018 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Madeleine Olnek. It stars Molly Shannon as Emily Dickinson, as well as Amy Seimetz, Susan Ziegler, Brett Gelman, Jackie Monahan, Kevin Seal, Dana Melanie, Sasha Frolova, Lisa Haas and Stella Chesnut. The film is based on the actual events of Emily Dickinson's life, including her process as a writer, her attempts to get published, and her lifelong romantic relationship with another woman.

<i>Big Time Adolescence</i> 2019 American film

Big Time Adolescence is a 2019 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Jason Orley, in his directorial debut. It stars Pete Davidson, Griffin Gluck, Emily Arlook, Colson Baker, Sydney Sweeney and Jon Cryer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madeleine Olnek</span> Director and playwright

Madeleine Olnek is an American independent film director, producer, screenwriter, and playwright. She has written 24 plays and three feature films, including Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same, The Foxy Merkins, and Wild Nights with Emily. Her feature films have been described as "madcap comedies with absurdist leanings" and are all centered around queer characters.

References

  1. 1 2 Chang, Justin (May 2, 2015). "Film Review: 'Lamb'". Variety . Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Lamb (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Lamb | SXSW 2015 Event Schedule". SXSW . Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Ross Partridge's LAMB, Starring Oona Laurence Opens January 8, 2016". Vimooz.com. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Yamato, Jen (July 29, 2014). "'Matilda's Oona Laurence Joins Ross Partridge & Jess Weixler In 'Lamb'". Deadline. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ Murphy, Mekado (January 7, 2016). "Ross Partridge on 'Lamb' and Uncomfortable Viewers". The New York Times . Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "One year ago today, we began principal photography on LAMB. #dayone #lambthefilm". Facebook. June 19, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ Eslyn, Sarah [@eiselein] (July 9, 2014). "This was the most amazing experience with phenomenal people. I'll miss them all. #lambfilm #picturewrapped #100happydays #day81". Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2016– via Instagram.
  9. ↑ "Ross Partridge & Jennifer Lafleur SXSW Interview - Lamb | The MacGuffin". YouTube . April 1, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Lamb (Daniel Belardinelli)". MovieScoreMedia.com. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  11. ↑ Brill, Karen (November 13, 2015). "A Controversial Relationship Takes Center Stage in Exclusive 'Lamb' Poster". IndieWire . Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Lamb". Apple Trailers. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  13. ↑ Saepoff, Sonya (December 15, 2015). "Watch: There is Something Odd About This Relationship in Exclusive 'Lamb' Clip". IndieWire. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  14. ↑ Raup, Jordan (January 7, 2016). "Watch: Take a Drive in Exclusive Clip from Acclaimed SXSW Drama 'Lamb'". The Film Stage. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  15. ↑ Seidman, Carrie (April 19, 2015). "Dog tale takes Narrative Feature award at festival". Sarasota Herald-Tribune . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Lamb". Montclair Film Fest. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Lamb". siff.net. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Lamb". TorinoFilmFest.org. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  19. ↑ Canfield, David (May 13, 2015). "Ross Partridge's 'Lamb' Acquired for Distribution by The Orchard". IndieWire. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  20. ↑ Saepoff, Sonya (December 15, 2015). "Watch: There is Something Odd About This Relationship in Exclusive 'Lamb' Clip". IndieWire. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Lamb: Parents Guide". imdb.com. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Lamb (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Lamb". Metacritic . Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  24. ↑ Myers, Kimber (January 7, 2016). "Review: Unsettling Indie Drama 'Lamb' Stars Ross Partridge And Oona Laurence". IndieWire. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.