Wildrose (film)

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Wildrose
Wildrose press photo.jpg
Eichhorn as June Lorich
Directed by John Hanson
Screenplay by
  • John Hanson
  • Eugene Corr
Story by
  • John Hanson
  • Sandra Schulberg
Produced bySandra Schulberg
Starring
Cinematography Peter Stein
Edited byArthur Coburn
Music by
Production
company
New Front Films
Distributed by Troma
Release dates
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget< $1 million

Wildrose is a 1984 American independent drama film directed by John Hanson, produced by New Front Films, and distributed by Troma. [1] It stars Lisa Eichhorn and Tom Bower supported by a cast of largely nonprofessional actors, and is predominantly set and filmed in Minnesota's Iron Range.

Contents

Plot

Recently divorced from her abusive alcoholic husband (Stephen Yoakam), June's (Lisa Eichhorn) job as a miner in Minnesota's Mesabi Range becomes more challenging because of harassment from her male colleagues and a lack of support from her mother. She considers her independence, her family, and her future with fellow miner Rick (Tom Bower) as she develops a romantic relationship with him. [1] [2] [3]

Cast

Production

The film was shot on location in Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range, including town scenes in Eveleth. Other scenes were filmed in Bayfield, Wisconsin. [4]

It was made for under $1 million (equivalent to $2.82 million in 2022). [5]

Release and reception

The film was selected for the Museum of Modern Art's New Films/New Directors series, [4] [6] and was a finalist for the Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival. [6] Tom Bower was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. [7] It screened out of competition at the Berlin Film Festival [8] and at the Boston Film Festival. [9]

Ms. magazine called it "[as] visually rich as it is emotionally resonant." [10] The Los Angeles Times review wrote that the "small core of professional actors creates collides with the film's numerous self-conscious non-professionals, who inadvertently remind us that Eichhorn, Bower and others are, after all, 'acting' ... But the pluses outweigh the minuses." [1] Variety called Eichhorn's performance "moving, natural ... in a decidedly unglamorous role" and praised the camerawork as "extraordinary, vivid." [8]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Thomas, Kevin (November 7, 1985). "Movie Review: 'Wildrose': Love in Mining Country". Los Angeles Times.
  2. "Wildrose". Metrograph. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022.
  3. BAM
  4. 1 2 3 Maslin, Janet (April 5, 1985). "'Wildrose' by Hanson". New York Times. p. 46. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017.
  5. Anderson, Phil (November 1982). "Prairie Film Companion". American Film. p. 48.
  6. 1 2 Canton, Rolf J. (2007). "Directors". Behind the Cameras: Minnesotans in the Movies, Volume II. p. 38. ISBN   9781932472530.
  7. Leslie, Roger (2008). Film Stars and Their Awards: Who Won What for Movies, Theater and Television. p. 36. ISBN   9780786440177.
  8. 1 2 "Pictures: Berlin Film Fest Reviews – Wildrose". Variety. Vol. 314, no. 7. Los Angeles. March 14, 1984. p. 24.
  9. Carr, Jay (September 27, 1985). "'Wildrose' Is Rich and Rare". Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 58.
  10. McHenry, Susan (May 1985). "Media: Five One-of-a-Kind Films..." Ms. p. 53.