East of the Mountains

Well acted, if slow moving vehicle, that illustrates one man's battle with himself to be in charge of his own destiny despite the imminence of death from terminal cancer. Watch as he distances himself from others as he prepares to end his own life, the only way he thinks he can be the captain of his life. During his journey, he finds that there are other imperatives pulling him a different direction. Which force will win?

He's terminally ill and decides to take his own life back where he grew up. He takes only his dog - but when he's forced to seek help from a local vet, he gets insight into more about what the end of his life could be. I see you Mira Sorvino.

This is a story to feel. The pace is slow, but it gives the time and space for viewers to feel the character's predicament.

Perfectly cast, Skerritt proves he has plenty in the tank to deliver a nuanced performance set against the magnificent backdrop of the Eastern Washington wilderness. Director SJ Chiro doesn't waste a frame, and keeps the delicate story moving. It really reminds me of 'Nomadland', a story in the same vain and beautifully shot cinematography. It's not everyone's thing, but I found the idea and story compelling, and really thought Skerritt was at his best that I've ever seen.

This film belongs to the group of elegiac journeys taken by old (mostly) men nearing death, and attempting to reconnect with their past, family, and unresolved issues. If you liked Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," or David Lynch's "The Straight Story," you will probably like this movie. It features everything you could hope for in this genre, gorgeous cinematography, first-rate acting, a perfect musical soundtrack, and a story that is just complex enough to avoid being predictable, but I found satisfying.

Just as an aside, Tom Skerritt is old enough to have served in the Korean war, as his character reveals, but the story could also be the final chapter in the life of Duke Forrest from the 1970 film, M. A. S. H.