CineVegas 2009 Preview: ‘Redland’

CineVegas 2009 is right around the corner (next week to be precise), and We Are Movie Geeks are going to be there in full force. Throughout the festival, which runs from June 10th through the 15th, we are going to be bringing you all the coverage you need including reviews, interviews, party breakdowns, and red carpet premiere coverage.

This week, we are going to break down some of the more anticipated films of the fest   ‘Redland,’ for example, is the feature film debut of writer/director Asiel Norton, and it looks incredibly audacious.

Here’s the film’s synopsis:

A family on the brink of starvation struggles for survival in Depression-era rural America. While the fervently spiritual patriarch of the family tries in vain to provide for his family, his daughter goes to extremes to hide an affair from him. Yet as their way of life erodes and they run out of money and food, the family’s moral rectitude intensifies. One saving grace may be the beautiful forest that surrounds the family’s homestead, providing a fairytale backdrop into which the family hopes it can escape. Yet this scenario isn’t nearly that harmonious — this struggle is man vs. nature. Only after complete dissolution can the family be reborn.

First-time director Asiel Norton’s similar background to what is portrayed in the film provides a tone that makes REDLAND pure. The desolate American morality play is reminiscent of early John Sayles, with vivid characters bringing to life a fascinating history lesson. The characters succumb to the hallucinations of their hunger, both for food and for love. It all adds to REDLAND’s dreamy style, which also features the most luscious widescreen cinematography you may see all year.

The cinematography from Zoran Popovic and production design by Thomas William Hallbauer look to make this one, visceral motion picture.   With a story, acting, and direction to back them up, ‘Redland’ looks to be one of the most promising films of the festival.

‘Redland’ will screen on Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 pm and Friday, June 12th at 1:00 pm.