David M. Dawson's "The Long Weekend" is the most cinematic and accessible work of his career so far. There's a meditative and emotional approach to this tale of two brothers with an awkward relationship, on a camping trip, dealing with the loss of a friend who was their connective tissue. Kyle Owen shoots the hell out of this and Dawson makes damn sure to give each shot enough time to breathe, allowing us to bask in the grace of the naturalistic cinematography. Nicholas Stange does some tremendous work here as the older brother but it's Mike Miller who brings the real gravitas as a deeply wounded character. Ryley Walker's musical score really breathes life into this film, doubling down on the folk soul of the dramedy. David M. Dawson is a force to be reckoned with and "The Long Weekend" is a breezy hour-long movie that will awaken feelings and thoughtful personal musings.
