Director Kelly Reichardt’s film “Meek’s Cutoff” is a masterpiece. She skillfully deconstructs the Western film and has established herself as one of the leading Indie directors today. Don’t expect a John Wayne shoot-em-up Western here. This film depicts a realistic glimpse of pioneer life. The minimalist style Reichardt uses shows the hardships these pioneers endured on the Oregon Trail in hopes of a better life. Boise filmgoers, this film was shot in Burns, Oregon. The high desert terrain is the cinematic backdrop for this journey.
Meek’s Cutoff is based on a true story. Jonathan Raymond’s barebones screenplay should be studied in film schools. It certainly proves that less dialogue is better in filmmaking. Raymond’s script is based on the actual diaries of Oregon Trail settlers and some of these entries mention Stephen Meek as their guide. The biggest differences between John Ford’s or even the Coen Brothers’ rendition of the Wild West and Meek’s Cutoff is that Ford and the Coen Brothers use narrative to keep the story moving. Not so for Reichardt and Raymond. The opening sequence goes for 10 minutes without any dialogue. It shows the settlers crossing a creek, carefully leading their oxen across, and slowly hand carrying their belongings to the other side.
One powerful wordless scene includes the scraping noise of pioneer Thomas Gately’s (Paul Dano) knife. He is carving the word “Lost” into a fallen tree. It is all that is needed to explain their precarious situation. There are other sounds like a squeaky wagon wheel and the chirping of a pet canary that also adds to the somber mood.
The story is set in 1845. Three families choose to leave a larger wagon train on the Oregon Trail to set out on their own with a hired guide, Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood), who claims to know a short cut over the Cascade Mountains. The film begins five weeks into their journey through the rugged high desert. As they run low on food and water, they soon realize Meek doesn’t know the way.
What makes this film work is the excellent ensemble cast. Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine) has come a long way since her early acting days on Dawson’s Creek. She turns in the best performance of the film. Williams plays Emily Tetherow, a wary young woman coming out west with her older husband, Solomon (Will Patton). Zoe Kazan (her grandfather is Hollywood director legend Elia Kazan) plays Gately’s flighty wife. Kazan is very talented and has a bright acting future ahead of her. Shirley Henderson plays the third pioneer wife Glory White. She is a strong anchor to her family, which includes the stoic William (Neal Huff), and son Jimmy (Tommy Nelson).
The film really gets interesting when they capture an Indian (Rod Rondeaux). He speaks in his native language which makes him a mystery because we don’t know what he is thinking. It also demonstrates two cultures alien to each other. The question the pioneers want to know is whether the Indian can find them water. Meek’s doesn’t trust the Indian and wants to kill him. On the other hand, Emily believes that the Indian is their only hope in finding water and protects him from Meek’s racism. This standoff is the most intense scene in the movie.
Without giving any spoilers, many will be frustrated with the ending of the film. It leaves many questions unanswered but that is Reichardt’s intent. It’s not a sugarcoated look at the mythical West. It’s an honest depiction of all the hardships these heroic pioneers had to endure for a better life. Meek’s Cutoff is now playing at The Flicks theatre downtown Boise. Movie times.
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