A One Mann’s Movies review of “Rebuilding”. (2026, 4*, PG).
I love going into a film where I have low to no expectations of it but then come out of it with a nice warm glow. “Rebuilding” is one such movie. It’s a gentle, quiet film that takes its time to tell its story, over 96 minutes, but then has a worthwhile payoff.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
We are in the San Luis Valley of Colorado in the present day. Estranged father Dusty (Josh O’Connor) loses his ranch and his livelihood in a terrible wildfire. He is rehoused with other affected locals in a FEMA camp: just a circle of mobile homes in the desert scrub. He has to come to terms with what he does next.
Certification:
UK: PG; US: R. (From the BBFC website: “Mild bad language, upsetting scenes, drug references”.)
Talent:
Starring: Josh O’Connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy, Amy Madigan, Kali Reis, Binky Griptite.
Directed by: Max Walker-Silverman.
Written by: Max Walker-Silverman.
Running Time: 1h 36m.
Review:
Positives:
- This is a genuinely touching story about loss and the kindness of strangers. It has similarities in its story with the recent Oscar-nominee “Train Dreams” but also similarities with earlier Oscar-winner “Nomadland” in its depiction of the lives of people on the edge of society, living in trailer parks. It’s a genuinely interesting piece.
- The kindness of strangers shines through with lots of acts of minor generosity:
- All of the other residents of the county know that, with a fractional change of wind, it could have been them rather than Dusty. As Dusty sells his last remaining cows at auction, the auctioneer (Eli Malouff) pleads for compassion as Dusty stands there, head bowed, as the bids pile in.
- In the trailer park there is a pecking order of need: Rusty gets help from single-mum neighbour Mila (Kali Reis) (with the flicker of a potential future relationship, perhaps?) and both of them cook meals to leave on the doorstep for the reclusive woodsman in his trailer – perhaps the most alien of all of them in the diverse new society. We compare and contrast the viewpoints of Dusty and Mila through their mobile homes: Dusty’s feels like an empty cabin; Mila’s glows with homeliness and charm.
- Someone points Rusty to the local library wifi code, so his daughter Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre) can do her school homework on her colourful iPad: the same iPad that Rusty then uses to help the computer-illiterate older couple (sisters? or lesbian couple?) complete their government forms.
- A fascinating section of the film sees the dispossessed strangers describing the things that they wished they had saved from the fire. For Mila, it’s obviously her husband, sacrificing himself in stupid bravery just to try and fail to preserve their home. For others it’s more random personal items. It makes you think… If you had five minutes to run for your life, what would you take with you and would you make the right rational choices in the literal heat of the moment?
- The lead role is taken by some guy called Josh O Connor, who I really wish could be given a bit more opportunity on our cinema screens, because he really is very good (satire!). O’Connor must be the hardest-working actor in the world today. He is said to be dating the Irish actress Alison Oliver (who gave such a memorable dog-impression in “Wuthering Heights“!), but they presumably put up with fairly infrequent romantic encounters since they must barely be in the same place at the same time!
- The supporting cast is also terrific, with newly anointed Oscar-winner Amy Madigan putting in a brief but impressive turn as Dusty’s mother-in-law; Meghann Fahy, last seen in the patchy thriller “Drop“, effective as his ex-wife Ruby and young Lily LaTorre really knocking it out of the park as the precocious daughter Callie-Rose. This is the second memorable performance from LaTorre, who was also terrific in her feature debut, the Australian thriller “Run Rabbit Run“: as I said in that review, a name to watch for the future!
- As for “Train Dreams“, the Colorado scenery is marvellous and even the scorched woods and burnt ground have their own kind of stark beauty. Capturing it all is cinematographer Alfonso Herrera Salcedo.
- As I said, I left the cinema with a warm glow and that is largely down to the heartwarming ending: a twist that I didn’t really see coming, where Dusty – a man with little to give – manages to give something vital. (No, not his left kidney). I liked it very much.
Negatives:
- There’s only a couple of places where the script stutters a bit for me. A scene where Dusty and Ruby converse in Dusty’s mobile home, each talking over the other, feels forced and unnatural
- If you are into a lot of action and adventure, this film will not be for you.
Summary Thoughts:
A quiet and thoughtful film that surprised me with its quality. While this is perhaps not a particularly exciting film for children, it is only a PG certificate (a rare thing these days), so older children might really appreciate seeing a ‘different sort of film’ on their journey to being a true cinephile.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xts1LhfqNEQ.
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