Simple Things

A rare and beautiful film about country life shot with simplicity and warmth, without contrivance or sentimentalism. Unlike many shows and films with the theme of big city meets small town, this film did not attempt to idealize small town or country living, instead showing how the magic, healing and community found in any place is due to an inner transformation and change in perspective. The magic of ordinary life in the country and the process of healing from grief and recovery from loss is captured so well here due to the quiet brilliance of the principal actor, Cameron Bancroft. Exquisite and subtle acting performance from Bancroft as Dr. Evan Gibbs and the actor who played his son, Nate, Aiden Mitchell. All of the cast was authentic, and the movie was deeply emotionally engaging, even wrenching because of this. I grew up in a small town and in the Country and I appreciated the humor, candor and realism and subtle moments of nature and grace, unadorned yet deeply poetic and meaningful, throughout. It also left much "scope for the imagination" as Anne of Green Gables would say.

This film felt like Everwood meets the Hallmark Channel on a budget. While the storyline is fine, none of the characters were developed beneath a superficial level and felt very phony towards the end. What doctor when faced with an un-breathing son would stop to cry instead of beginning CPR?

I wanted to like the characters in this but it felt like movie needed to be more thought through before it could be engaging. For the most part the photography was beautiful and the sentiment was admirable if somewhat unbelievable.

It felt unformed when we first see the son left on his own, with no though having been put into how he would spend his day. Some of the hillbilly types were a bit too stereotypical and I didn't really find it credible that they were afraid of big city doctors.

I think that the sentiment was legit and the potential was there but everything felt like it needed more development and maybe a good solid rewrite.

Simple town. Simple houses. Simple people who live there. Maybe we all need a little simpler way of life now and then. Seen at the Staten Island Film Festival June 2007, this definitely provides a change of pace to what you'll see in most of today's movie houses. In this movie, a big city high tech. doctor comes to rural America to set up a clinic as a requirement to advance his career. I'm pretty sure if you showed up at this 'clinic' today, you'd probably wonder what in the world you're letting yourself in for. If it isn't gleaming chrome and plastic today, most of us would probably head for the nearest exit. Predictable? Maybe a little, but that doesn't ruin the movie one bit. If you're looking for high speed car chases, this movie isn't for you. No shoot'em ups either. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this movie with the entire family. It also just might restore your faith in people, even though you think of yourself as superior, high tech, or city slicker. Great entertainment.

this is a calming nice movie. rare! the performances were just fine. subtle and under acted, which is a good thing. the "mountain folk" had some caricatures, but in the end, all were good people. great to watch with kids, mine, 3 & 9, watched this calm talking movie with interest, just as much as watching flashing zip zap action cartoons and laugh track Disney shows which is pretty much all the choices there are. i hope more movies like this come out. it hit on some serious issues with subtlety and a sense of reality like a well staged play. my kids learned some strength things here. kudos to crew, actors, writing, director. my only real critique, and i hope the DP learns from this, which may have been due to budget & constraints, but the lighting felt a little too even handed, too well lit. but i am picky about that and like my fog machines, rays of light, dark shadows and negative space. course i'm a monster scifi geek myself.

Didn't they do this basic format in Doc Hollywood? At least that was funny, well acted and had charm. This one rots your teeth!