Old Joy
United States
2006
76 Min
Color
1.66:1
English
Synopsis
Old Joy is the story of two old friends, Kurt (Will Oldham) and Mark (Daniel London), who reunite for a weekend camping trip in the Cascade mountain range east of Portland, Oregon. For Mark, the weekend outing offers a respite from the pressure of his imminent fatherhood; for Kurt, it is part of a long series of carefree adventures. As the hours progress and the landscape evolves, the twin seekers move through a range of subtle emotions, enacting a pilgrimage of mutual confusion, sudden insight, and spiritual battle. When they arrive at their final destination, a hot spring in an old growth forest, they must either confront the divergent paths they have taken, or somehow transcend their growing tensions. Old Joy is in some ways the story of collaboration between three artists: photographer Justine Kurland, writer Jon Raymond, and filmmaker Kelly Reichardt.
Director
Kelly Reichardt
Kelly Reichardt is a screenwriter and film director working within American indie cinema. Her debut film River of Grass was released in 1994. It was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. In 1999, she completed her sophomore feature, Ode, based on Herman Raucher’s novel Ode to Billie Joe. Next, she made two short films, Then a Year, made in 2001, and Travis, which deals with the Iraq War, in 2004. Most of her films are regarded to be part of the minimalist movement in films.
In 2006, she completed Old Joy, based on the short story by Jon Raymond, starring Daniel London and singer-songwriter Will Oldham as two friends who reunite for a camping trip to the Cascades and Bagby Hot Springs, near Portland, Oregon. The film won awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Rotterdam International Film Festival and Sarasota Film Festival. Neil Kopp won the Producer’s Award at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards… read more
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bennievermeer
30May12
Kelly Reichardt's 'Old Joy' is a subtle meditation on the transience of friendship and youthful ideals. So subtle, in fact, that most of its underlying drama remains implied. www.brnrd.net/blog/archive/2007/01/28/old-joy
Mademoiselle likes this
Anne St. Anne
16May12
Literally the only reason I watched this was because Netflix categorized it as a "gay & lesbian film". On that level I was severely disappointed.
Yuki Aditya likes this
Brad Fautsch
24Feb12
This is one of my favorite new(er) American films. It's so subtle, beautiful, and realistic. Great soundtrack by Yo La Tengo which perfectly matches the landscape. Kelly Reichardt is a talented young director.
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Articles
Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
Venice and TIFF 2010. Kelly Reichardt's "Meek's Cutoff"
By David Hudson on September 5, 2010
"This is a film whose story turns on one character's offer to repair another's shoe, the implications of this small act weighted so as
US Indies Abroad, Kelly Reichardt, Elvis
By David Hudson on January 5, 2010
For the second year in a row, the Babylon theater in Berlin is presenting a series of American independent films, 22 this time around, ranging
LAFF Report: Old Joy Review
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
It would be easy to oversell Old Joy. For a picture that achieves so much, very little appears to happen. Two long-time friends make preparations for a short camping trip. They drive into the Oregon woods
LAFF Report: Old Joy Review
By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
It would be easy to oversell Old Joy. For a picture that achieves so much, very little appears to happen. Two long-time friends make preparations for a short camping trip. They drive into the Oregon woods
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Two old friends...
By THX 1138 on September 30, 2011
Two old friends meet up to visit a hot spring out in the woods and spend a night camping out in Oregon.
There’s no incident or thrill to be found in this slight piece and the viewer’s enjoyment… read review
LOS RECORRIDOS POSIBLES
By Lucas Granero on August 14, 2010
El recorrido que hacen los dos personajes principales de “Old Joy” es fácilmente reconocible. El espíritu de la película de Kelly Reichardt es deudor de algunas de las mejores imágenes que nos dejó… read review
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No faux love for
14 posts by 7 people
over 3 years ago