Once Upon A River movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: Once Upon A River

Now available in virtual theaters everywhere via video-on-demand

RATING: The film doesn’t have a rating, but I’d give it an R for language and mature scenes

LENGTH: 1 hour, 32 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A-

IN A NUTSHELL:

First-time director Haroula Rose shares a coming-of-age story about a fearless heroine in her drama, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Bonnie Jo Campbell. Haroula Rose has a bright future in the film industry.

The film has already won 17 awards in the film festival circuit!

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

You see a girl in her underwear and later see her topless
A mother walks away from her family. If you have children, assure them you’re not going to leave them.
You see a dead deer and some other animals that have been shot, along with pelts.
A teenager drinks alcohol given to her by a predatory adult and then he “has his way with her.”
You see blood on a girl’s underwear.
Profanity and 2 F-bombs.
Guns, shooting
People die
Starved for affection, the heroine is pretty promiscuous
You see a visit to an abortion clinic

THEMES:

Destiny
Infidelity
Family
Consequences
Emotional connection
Healing old wounds
Dishonesty
“You should live how you want.” – Margo (Kenadi DelaCerna)
The importance of having good parents around
Selfishness

THINGS I LIKED:

Kenadi DelaCerna gives a wonderful breakthrough performance as a Native American teenager living in rural Michigan in the 1970s. She sets off on the river alone to find her estranged mother and meets interesting characters along the way.
The director gives us some little details that really help us understand where the teenager’s mindset is.
Some beautiful cinematography by Charlotte Hornsby. The film is shot with an insightful lens.
The sound of the river was outstanding and ever-present. Kudos to the sound department.
Another round of kudos goes to the location management team. What a fun job that must be. Sign me up!
The music was not heavy-handed, offering just a touch of background every now and then.
I like the title but think “The River Rose” could have been even more appropriate because I love double-meanings.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

There isn’t much humor, although there are a few humorous characters that the protagonist meets along the way.
It’s full of sadness. While the story is about Margo, some viewers will just be bored or depressed by the story.
Some viewers won’t be satisfied with the ending.

FUNNY LINES:

* “Open your eye!” – Brian (Dominic Bogart)

INTERESTING LINES: