In India Donaldson’s insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (McCarthy). As the two men quickly settle into a gently
quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, airing long-held grievances, Sam, wise beyond her years, attempts to mediate. But when lines are crossed and Sam’s trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch, as Sam struggles with her dad’s emotional limitations and experiences the universal moment when the parental bond is tested.
The Garden Cinema View:
The spirit of Kelly Reichardt soars over this soothing yet disturbing trek through the woods. In particular, the hiking mysteries of Old Joy, as well as a Reichardtian camera which is always drawn to insects, foliage, and other quiet scenes of nature. Deborah Granik’s Leave no Trace is another (albeit more intense) touchpoint, as Good One also uses the wilderness as a canvas to explore a father-daughter relationship. It’s a lovely debut feature, and although the stakes are low, this allows small moments to ripple undisturbed.
