Of all American movies I’ve seen, Certain Women, so far the most successful film of the “neo-neorealist” director Kelly Reichardt, is probably the most un-American. For all I know, if not for the snow-mountains in the background — nice landscape but not exactly what I’d call breathtaking — it could have been Finnish, as the four female leads are all fine with not saying much.
The three plot lines are based on three short stories by Maile Meloy; their intersections seem rather artificial and unnecessary. The first story, starring Laura Dern as Laura, has the most action and most dialogue, some of it rather funny. The second part, featuring Michelle Williams, is a bit pointless. And the last one is a beauty. It could — I’d say it should — have been made into a short-ish feature on its own. Lily Gladstone shines as the ranch hand Jamie. The final dialogue between Jamie and Beth (Kristen Stewart) in Livingston (according to Google Maps, 130 miles, slightly over two hours drive — not four hours! — from Belfry) is as masterfully understated as it is heartbreaking.
This film was shown as a part of Ciclo de cine Semana de la Mujer organised by Centro de Arte La Regenta (calle León y Castillo, 427).
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