by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What does a film need to be a success? There are giant epic films that take three hours, tons of effects, and impressive ensembles to grab their audience. But cinema has proven that small and intimate tales can do it just as well for a film as those giant blockbusters. Sometimes all it takes is a beautiful setting. Maybe tell some important themes and ideas. Throw in a character dynamic that can speak to its audience, and you will have yourself enough ingredients to do the job. Luckily for him (and us), filmmaker Jeff Rutherford had the right elements to cook together to offer up a moving and memorable cinematic experience.
What type of tale do we get with Rutherford’s directorial effort, A Perfect Day for Caribou? The plot is generally simplistic. We begin with a middle-aged man in a bad place. He is recording a message to his son on a tape recorder (this takes place in the ‘90s) because he does something rash. But when he receives a call, he is offered to meet his long-estranged son in a graveyard. What ensues is a free-flowing drama centered around the rebirth of this father/son dynamic. There are certainly some familiar and slow-plodding beats, but there is always some level of emotion. There are a few extra human interactions, but overall, this is all a father-son show. Some of the dialogue is a bit on the nose, and the themes are worn on its sleeves, but it is a moving and poignant journey.
What types of ideas does Rutherford try to tackle in his screenplay? The themes at the forefront are most certainly the purpose of a father and that father/son dynamic. We see the father, Herman (Jeb Berrier), confronting his absence in his son’s life, and the adverse effects on both. We see the son, Nate (Charlie Plummer), confront the absence of his father, and try to meet in the middle for a new relationship moving forward. Rutherford also tackles the placement of masculinity in the present world. Has Herman met his expectations of a father, and how does that absence flow into the other characters? The ideas are strong, even if some of them are presented in a blunt, less universal way.
What are the real highlights of this film? The cinematography is out of this world. Most of the film takes place in a cemetery and into the mountainous wilderness around it. The film is beautiful black and white, and it uses a smaller aspect ratio for a starkly vintage look. There are no moments of overbearing narrative, leaving the product free-flowing enough to take in the breathtaking landscape. Every shot is a framed piece of beauty that captures so much detail, and leaves so much for the audience to appreciate and gaze upon.
How do our two leads carry this new drama? Berrier is not the biggest household name around, but he delivers an impressive performance that anchors the film. The opening sequence lives and dies based on his performance. He is alone in frame, and must portray his character in a way that sees him raw and vulnerable as he works through some dangerous thoughts and ideas. He is in a difficult spot throughout the film, but he is able to inject some sense of hope, even when the film does not leave much. Plummer on the other hand is mostly passable. When the dialogue is not the best, Plummer struggles to elevate it (most of the time, he pulls it down instead). He does a fine job with Berrier and this journey, but I can imagine others who would have been stronger.
Is A Perfect Day for Caribou the right kind of small-time cinema worth your investment? There is a beauty in this film that makes for some of the best cinematography in recent memory. The rest of the film is dealt with in unnatural overing mid-50s. The themes are rich and the performances are mostly solid. There is enough going on here to make this one world your time, if you can find it.
Score: 8/10
A Perfect Day for Caribou will be in theaters in 2023
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