Set against the vast plains of Iowa, the film follows Cal Melbourne (Michael Ridley), a young man whose future is thrown into uncertainty when his family’s patriarch dies, leaving the fate of their farm in his hands. As he balances his grief, indecision, and responsibilities as a father to his young son, he also comes to grips with the possibility of building a life outside the constraints of the homestead that raised him.
Michael Ridley has earned significant acclaim for the film, with Richard Propes of The Independent Critic praising his “soulful yet immensely human” performance. Ridley has since picked up a handful of awards for the film, including winning the Madrid Film Award for Best Actor for his performance.
The film is a feature-first for writer-director Marissa Vonn, whose previous credits include the short films Domicile and Next of Kin. Vonn was awarded the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival’s Silver Eddy prize for the film. Cinematographer Bruce James Bales also serves as a producer on the film via DEFT Productions. Filmhub acquired the film after it premiered at festivals in the United States.
