Imagine walking for five weeks across a desert plain with barely any food or water. Then imagine discovering the person you paid to guide you to your destination is a liar.  You have been aimlessly wandering towards nowhere, believing that it’s somewhere.  Knowing this you continue to follow his directions because there’s no other option. It’s hope or die. Either that or hope and die anyway. Then you come across a local that knows the way, the only problem is, he belongs to a tribe of Native Americans who have always been considered the enemy. Do you continue on your deathly pilgrimage or do you put your trust in him?

Meek’s Cutoff takes place in 1845 in the earliest days of the Oregon Trail. Three families are making their way across inhospitable terrain. Their journey is long and the smell of death is never far away. Directed by Kelly Reichaedt, the film focuses on the hardships of the journey and the unbearable daily routine.

Jeff Grace’s musical score creates a tense and dramatic atmosphere in a film where very little happens. “Our direction was geared more towards ‘sound’ than music. I didn’t want a score that would make the journey more romantic in any way”. The sounds are raw and rustic. Your senses are heightened, a twig snapping is like a volcanic eruption lasting for just a split second. Then back to silence. For the travelers the silence is deafening.

Meek’s Cutoff is not for everyone and it’s certainly not a date movie. Reichaedt says the journey seems trance-like with each day bleeding into the next.These are some of the things I tried to get across. The stillness, the silence and the super unforgiving and dynamic landscape”. There is not much in the way of action in this film but that’s the point.

You are taken back in time to a totally unfamiliar environment.  The vastness of the American plains, the loneliness and the fear are supporting characters in this film. The cast includes Michelle Williams, Will Patton, Bruce Greenwood, Shirley Henderson (best remembered as Moaning Myrtle) and Paul Dano (you may remember him as Dwayne from Little Miss Sunshine). All of their performances do the great story justice.

Go to the cinema and watch this on your own. You will leave with a fresh perspective on life – and the reassurance that you know the way home.

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About the author

Becky Shepherd
Becky Shepherd has recently graduated from The University for the Creative Arts with a degree, in Fashion Journalism. For the last three years she has put blood sweat and tears (quite literally) into internships at Vogue India, Easy Living, The Times, Matches and assisted freelance stylists. Her highlight of 2010 was lying in the sun at the Isle of Wight Festival with a pint of cider, watching Crowded House with her best friends. She loves words and ideas. Her favourite fashion designer is Peter Jensen. She has a mild but very real crush on Salman Rushdie. Becky is happiest writing about inspiring people. This year, so far her hair has been 5 different colours. North, South, East or West? The deep south. High Class or Common or Garden? Common or Garden. Clothes or Culture? Clothes are a part of culture! My best night out ever made me feel.... like I could fly.

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