The always excellent and incredibly busy Josh O’Connor stars as Thomas “Dusty” Fraser Jr. When his ranch is destroyed by wildfire, he ends up in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) camp whilst assessing his options.
Max Walker-Silverman’s affecting drama has arrived in cinemas with little fanfare and I expect that it will not hang around for long. That is a shame as if is a beautifully observed study of a person trying to make sense of their life when they are dealt such a devastating blow. O’Connor is, once again, fantastic, showing his pain with the way he holds himself, keeping his anguish locked up, save for one noteworthy scene. He eventually begins to feel some happiness by finding community with others who lost homes, and Kali Reis is excellent as one of his new neighbours.
Dusty has an ex-wife and daughter, and Walker-Silverman keeps their scenes natural and cliché free. They may be separated but have a bond because of their child and we not subjected to scenes of sniping and betrayal. They come across as reasonable people trying to navigate through a tough time. This a rare treat of a movie for grown ups, with brains and heart.
Rating: 9 out of 10