Release Date: April 2, 2014
Director: Chris Eska
MPAA Rating: NR
Film Pulse Score: 8/10
In 2008, writer/director Chris Eska won the Casavettes award for August Evening, a film centered around the lives of undocumented farm workers. This beautiful and heartfelt film went on to win 5 additional awards from festivals around the country. This year we have Eska’s follow up, titled The Retrieval, which is another gorgeous film that just won the Special Jury Recognition For Acting award for Tishuan Scott at SXSW 2013.
The film takes place during the Civil War and centers around Will (Ashton Sanders) a young bounty hunter and his uncle (Keston John) who are tasked with finding and bringing in Nate (Tishuan Scott), a man wanted for murder. To make matters worse, the two are told if they don’t bring the man back alive, both of them will be killed.
From the opening scene in the film, we are made aware of two things. First, this is an absolutely gorgeous movie and second, this isn’t your typical civil war drama. The interesting dynamic in this film is that the two lead characters are men of color and the majority of what they are doing is turning in other blacks to slave traders.
This raises some intriguing questions that are explored throughout the film’s 90 minute runtime. What lengths would you go to in order for self preservation? Would you turn your back on your people or even your family? It’s these themes that Eska poses to the audience in a matter of fact way.
As the two escort Nate back to their camp, young Will begins to question the morality of what they are doing as his relationship with Nate grows. After an unexpected event occurs, Will must decide where his loyalties lie and how to make it out of this situation alive.
Though the film is heavily dialogue driven and the action is sparse, the visuals are what really elevate this to the next level. The lush forests and bleak country landscapes look fantastic, and are reminiscent of recent releases Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and The Loneliest Planet. Similarly, if it weren’t for these incredible backdrops, the film wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable.
Another big factor in such a performance focused film, is obviously the performances. Though it has a limited cast, the performances were solid across the board, with Tishuan Scott being the standout. His character of Nate had a deeper backstory than the others and proved to be one of the few good people in the film. It’s Nate’s wisdom that propels much of the conversation, however even in the longer scenes of dialogue the film doesn’t feel like it has stalled like in similarly structured pictures.
The Retrieval is a hypnotic and meticulously shot period drama, that brings something new to the table and proves you can have a movie take place during the Civil War without needing to include epic battle scenes with hundreds of people. Though it’s a small film I can easily see big things happening for this one.
