Wildrose (film)

For films with similar titles, see Wild Rose (disambiguation).

Wildrose
Eichhorn as June Lorich
Directed byJohn Hanson
Screenplay by
  • John Hanson
  • Eugene Corr
Story by
  • John Hanson
  • Sandra Schulberg
Produced bySandra Schulberg
Starring
CinematographyPeter Stein
Edited byArthur Coburn
Music by
Production
company
New Front Films
Distributed byTroma
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.

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

  • Lisa Eichhorn as June Lorich
  • Tom Bower as Rick Ogaard
  • Jim Cada as Pavich
  • Cinda Jackson as Karen
  • Dan Nemanick as Ricotti
  • Lydia Olson as Katri Sippola
  • Bill Schoppert as Timo Maki
  • James Stowell as Doobie
  • Stephen Yoakam as Billy
  • Vienna Maki as Vienna Lorich
  • Frankie Smoltz as Frank Lorich
  • Clinton Maxwell as Chris Ogaard
  • Ernest Tomatz as Nolan
  • Marie Nelson as Marie Ogaard
  • Father Frank Perkovich as himself[4]

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 $2.93 million in 2023).[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

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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.