Wildlike (2015)

I'm pretty obsessed with this movie. It's very rare that a movie (especially one listed on Netflix) takes you through a poignant journey with believable characters and actual character development. It is also very rare to see a bond between a male and female character that is entirely non-sexual in nature. The movie was satisfying from start to finish and featured beautiful locations. The relationship between the abused and her abuser was very realistic. The creators of this movie should be proud.

Not only effectively done in a restraint and subtle way of story telling and acting, against a very hard to deal with topic, it's also beautifully illustrated with camera direction and cinematic photography of Alaska. Ella and Bruce have done a marvelous acting job with great chemistry and screen presence. Strongly recommended.

It's really well cast. There are no risks taken with the casting which leads to the film simply being really well cast, which in turn adds to the believability of the aesthetic & therefore the story.The story is subtle without over-dramatisation, which makes it all the more realistic & allows the viewer to be carried along with ease. The subject matter itself is approached with respect & a gentle hand. I found the end very moving, as the child is offered hope of a childhood.Often films of this nature can be too dramatic, too dark, which leads the viewer to be repulsed & empathy can be lost in that mix. However! This film offers hope above all else. We know there are awful humans in this world & that children fall foul to them via circumstance, but there is good in this world too, there is hope.Well written piece.

The big winner of the festival (15th Annual Phoenix Film Festival) was Frank Hall Green's "Wildlike". Winner of Best Acting Ensemble, Best Screenplay and Best Picture which pulled out all the stops in its breathtaking Alaskan beauty and subtle emotional impact. Ella Purnell plays Mackenzie, a troubled teen who is sent by her struggling mother to live with her uncle in Juneau, Alaska. Unfortunately, Uncle is on the creepy side and is not above manhandling his underage niece. First chance she gets, Mackenzie runs away and attempts to head back to Seattle.We see MacKenzie making bad decisions, stumbling through awkward situations, and eventually meeting up with an older man who's wife passed away a year before. Bruce Greenwood delivers a gentle and earthy performance as Rene Bartlett, the man determined to travel alone through an area of Alaska that he and his wife were suppose to trek through. MacKenzie finally finds someone she can place trust in, but it is not an easy union.Some may consider Rene to be the father figure that Mackenzie has been searching for, but he could easily be just a decent enough human being that Mackenzie needs in her life. Although, it's not an easy pairing since the man resists having so much emotional baggage even though he does care for her well-being. Their journey through the Alaskan wild and how they connect on so many emotional levels is a trip worth taking. Frank Hall Green somehow not only captures the intimacy of his two explorers, but also of the wilderness itself. Quiet moments are so nuanced that one cannot help reflect on the wonders of both human nature and nature itself.Ella Purnell demonstrates a natural ability to convey strength and vulnerability all at once. She can be both spunky and timid, and we believe her every step of the way. The one thing I could not get over was her striking resemblance to actress Reese Witherspoon, and how both have now done films with wildlife settings around the same time period.Green gives us an absorbing look into this troubled teen, the men in her life all the while providing something much more than just a travelogue. He incorporates the John Ford techniques, showing us how small we really are compared to everything going on around us, but then brings us back with an intimacy that keeps us well in touch with those we care about. "Wildlike" is a gorgeous film that touches our heart and soul.This review is taken in part from my article, "Highlights from the Phoenix Film Festival" from The Movie Guys.