Runoff

RUNOFF is a true movie-lover's movie. It takes us into a world that most of us know little about and explores it with a sophistication and class rarely seen in a debut film. The last half hour will have you on the edge of your seat. Joanne Kelly is a true star, her face brings you in like a silent movie star's would. It was so refreshing to see a movie that could have been so righteous dogmatic, instead allow its political charge to be simply experiential. It takes a tremendous amount of faith in the characters and the story to do that. Levin doesn't just present you this world, she puts you in surround sound of it. You truly feel as if you are there. Throughout the entire piece, her camera is enveloping you in the everyday beauty of this environment, and you will (like Betty) feel compelled to protect it with all you have.

A great study into the depth of the soul of which a person will sell themselves for the need, the very depth of that dark corner inside, to protect their family. Ms.Joanne Kelly is outstanding as is the writing. The underlining story of the son rebelling against the norm of following in the family path was outstanding. The father's subtle disapproval was only matched by the mother's need to protect and understand. The final scene as Betty drove away, the look off set by the contents in the back of the truck, drove the final nail home at the determination, at all costs, to save the way of life at any cost.I drove almost four hours to the only theater in my state airing this work of art. And it was worth every mile.

Runoff will make you laugh, make you cry, re-examine your moral fiber and take you on a thrilling journey of how family values create deep introspection. This family faces everyday problems just as any family does and tries to solve each members problems with a positive outcome, even though it may be unrealistic. The warmth of tones and colors of the landscape plus the nature sounds of the film encompass you and take you to reside with the family in the countryside. You will engage and relate to the difficult choices and decisions this family must make to try and move forward with their lives. The director and cast make this well written drama a cinema must see.

Runoff is a fascinating new film by first time film director Kimberly Levin.

The film is about life in rural America, but unlike the usual simplistic, nostalgic and idealized portrayals which we often get when presented with stories of "life on the farm," Levin's film realistically tackles subjects confronting farmers in the here-and-now.

What is particularly interesting is that Levin poses the economic challenges of small farmers and small farm service industry workers as a series of moral choices many with devastating consequences, on people and on the environment. The actors are top-notch. The cinematography is personal and at times epic and lyrical. This was a wonderful film.

The lead actor, Joanne Kelly, "Betty," was especially great. Although full of outer beauty, she is no Hollywood actress "playing at" being a farmer. Joanne Kelly does all of her farm work like a pro, adding realism and dignity to her role. The same can be said for all of the other actors as well. All of them seem to truly inhabit their roles.

All in all, Runoff is a great film and should be seen widely by those who want to know more about the complexities of modern farm life, and for those who want to see a deeply affecting story about personal moral choices and their consequences.

I love movies, but my most frequent complaint is that they tend to wrap everything up so nicely in a 90-minute package that it's like eating artificially flavored candy. In most movies, the story is too strong, the flavors are too calculated. I don't think I've ever encountered a film like this that takes its time and trusts the viewer to come into the film. The story of RUNOFF is simple, a mother and father are at loggerheads over how to deal with the fact that they're about to lose their farm, and they start keeping secrets from each other (no spoiler). This was filmed in Kentucky, and the land is a beautiful character. Meditative shots of the water and land are there to give the audience time to think, in between the action. Watching this film is in some ways more like reading a book than seeing a typical film -- I hope this is a new way forward for cinema. Bravo.