instagram logo
twitter logo
rss logo
rss logo

Rebuilding - Sundance 2025


ff words logo
ff words logo
ff words logo
ff words logo

By: Isaac P. Ale
January 31, 2025

Josh O'Connor in REBUILDING Rebuilding [2025]

Film

Dusty's (Josh O'Connor) ranch has been in his family for an unknown number of years. A home that spans generations, has memories of its own and is quite simply more than just a bright blue barn on a piece of land. It's a lifestyle, a refuge, and a place that means so much more than whatever monetary value you could possibly put on it. I would imagine its been called heaven on Earth before, and it has one hell of a view.

Yet, despite all the weight the ranch carries, we never truly see it as it was. As soon as we learn of Dusty, he's already selling what cattle he has to try and build anew. In an all too common twist of fate, his ranch has been consumed by a wildfire, leaving nothing but physical destruction and emotional turmoil in its wake. Sometimes art imitates life, and sometimes life imitates art, but the mutual relationship our world, and the tragic fires in Los Angeles, have with Max Walker-Silverman's Rebuilding is difficult to put into words. The recent string of events outside L.A. may have elevated the emotional impact of Rebuilding but I must emphasize the fact that objectively, Walker-Silverman has made a tremendously moving film. A soul-stirring modern western.

From his first scene, O'Connor commands attention with a quiet, restrained performance as the reeling Dusty. Beyond the physical losses, Dusty’s family—his young daughter Callie Rose (Lily LaTorre), his ex-wife Ruby (a tremendous Meghann Fahy), and her mother Bess (Amy Madigan)—are also navigating emotional turmoil, especially as Dusty contemplates moving to Montana for work. O'Connor's meditative and nuanced performance not only captures the emotional weight of losing the memories carved into the wood of his home or barn but also the upstream fight he has to rebuild his relationship with Callie Rose. Combining the emotions of Dusty and his family with the gorgeous cinematography from Alfonso Herrera Salcedo—who's emphasis on natural lighting bathes the awe-inspiring landscape in surreal beauty—and the heart-shaking guitar-centric score from James Elkington and Jake Xerxes Fussell results in a redefinition of the modern Western. A shift in trajectory from the classic machismo of the cowboy, like in the popular Yellowstone series, to a more relatable, more human figure. Dusty's strength isn't an on-screen physical feature, but a piece of character that shines when he takes Callie Rose to the Library parking lot where he can get WiFi instead of in his FEMA trailer, or when he interacts with his neighbors who have all lost everything. The slow and steady community building, while in the throes of quiet grief, is the backbone of Rebuilding and why it succeeds not with O'Connor, but because of him.

Walker-Silverman's sophomore feature is another entry into his affection for the American West, in all of its glory. Focusing on its natural beauty, the diverse people that define it, and the indomitable spirit that the West represents, Rebuilding capitalizes on the groundwork laid by Walker-Silverman's first feature A Love Song. Creating and highlighting the beauty of finding yourself, among other things, when everything has been lost.

At times Rebuilding was tough to watch, especially with the proximity to the devastation in L.A. but never once does Walker-Silverman veer into exploitation. Instead, he carefully crafts a heartwarming story that is bound to be remembered for its touching story, moving performances, and a damn good view.

Froth

It's impossible to deny the impact that climate change has on the increased frequency and severity of wildfires. This is why I'm just going to cut to the chase and say this beer was chosen for its dedication to sustainable brewing. Offset Bier's Just Me: Mt Hood is a single hop Pilsner that utilizes the Mt. Hood hop varietal that was created to mimic the flavor and profile of German Noble hops. And while the flavor is undeniable, bringing in a slight spiciness that resembles a Czech Pilsner, it’s the hops and malt both being Salmon Safe products that drew me in. Salmon Safe is an organization that presents certification to West Coast farms, vineyards, large-scale construction, and urban development operations that abide by certain standards to ensure that they are not negatively impacting the watershed. This, in turn, means there's no detrimental impact on the salmon, among other fish, that rely on these sources of water to reproduce, along with all of the other incredibly important responsibilities salmon carry in their ecosystem.

And while being Salmon Safe is a huge plus here, the other big attraction to this brew is how delightful it is. Its aforementioned spiciness is balanced with a light profile, refreshing taste, and casual maltiness that rounds out a nice, enjoyable pilsner.

Join Our Oscars Contest!

You May Also Like:

Kiss of the Spider Woman - Sundance 2025

Kiss of the Spider Woman - Sundance 2025

Nosferatu: A Macabre Masterpiece

Nosferatu: A Macabre Masterpiece

Nosferatu: A Macabre Masterpiece

Hard Truths

facebook logo
instagram logo
twitter logo
rss logo
rss logo
Subscribe for updates!