Return (2011 film)
Encyclopedia
Return is a 2011
independent film
about an American reservist, wife and mother returning home from her tour of duty in the Middle East. The film was written and directed by Liza Johnson, and stars Linda Cardellini
, Michael Shannon
and John Slattery
. It is Johnson's first feature length film, and received good reviews at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival
Director's Fortnight.
Johnson was selected to attend the 2008 Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, where some scenes for Return were workshopped. The film project was also selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam
CineMart in 2008, which connects filmmakers with co-production and film marketers. Following the Sundance Lab program, she was awarded the Adrienne Shelly Women Filmmakers Grant for production of Return, and in 2010 received a grant from film philanthropic group Cinereach
.
In 2010, Johnson said, "Over the summer, we decided to move the production upstate [New York] in Newburgh, Beacon
, and New Windsor
. That area reminds me a lot of the town where I grew up, an Ohio river town that has been greatly affected by the economy." "On our last day of the shoot in Newburgh, a water main broke and the water started coming out brown. We looked around and it seemed like a sign that we shot in the right place." The film was shot in Super 16, distributed in DCP
, and is the first feature film production for Meredith Vieira
Productions.
Director's Fortnight. Following its premiere at the festival, Boston Globe reviewer Wesley Morris wrote, "I like Johnson's delicacy and discretion. She trusts Cardellini's natural, easygoing performance to show us what goes untold. The movie is modest, too, and its small emotional scale works. Without asking for pity or outrage, it's another movie about the unaccountable, unending drain of war."
Hollywood Reporter reviewer Todd McCarthy stated, "Return has quiet virtues and the distinction of focusing closely on one particular woman’s difficulty readjusting to being a wife and mother." Noting Cardellini's appearance in nearly every scene, the review continued, "she delivers by keeping you interested no matter how mundane the activity Kelli is performing. It’s a wholehearted performance". He noted Slattery's "amusing change-of-pace role", that Shannon "plays it absolutely straight for once", and credited Anne Etheridge's "mobile cinematography" with maintaining "a watchful air of intimacy."
Mark Adams (ScreenDaily.com) called the film "thoughtful and gently powerful," "subtle and simply told", noting that it "eschews the usual dramatic cues of the ‘soldier back home’ story", and called Cardellini's performance "terrific", "generating a real sense of warmth and affection but also a slight unease and distrust in those around her." He found Shannon's performance "equally impressive"; "his sheer presence and subtle performance bolsters Cardillini’s performance, making what on screen is a minor role seem more substantial." The review in Variety
called the film "amiable, stylish, low-key", Cardellini's performance as "wholly credible", and Slattery's portrayal of Bud as a "welcome jolt of energy and humor", though director Johnson "takes audience interest rather too much for granted in the pic's first half."
Five reviewers for IndieWire
gave the film grades of B+, B-, B+, B, and B.
2011 in film
The year 2011 is notable for containing the release of the most film sequels in a single year, at 27 sequels. The following tables list films that are in production or have completed production and will be released in the United States and Canada at some point in 2011.- Highest-grossing films :...
independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
about an American reservist, wife and mother returning home from her tour of duty in the Middle East. The film was written and directed by Liza Johnson, and stars Linda Cardellini
Linda Cardellini
Linda Edna Cardellini is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her roles as high school student Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks, as Velma Dinkley in the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and as Samantha Taggart on ER.- Early life :Cardellini was born in Redwood City,...
, Michael Shannon
Michael Shannon (actor)
Michael Corbett Shannon is an American stage, film, and television actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Revolutionary Road...
and John Slattery
John Slattery
John M. Slattery, Jr. is an American actor and director, best known for his role as Roger Sterling on AMC's series Mad Men. He has been nominated for many awards, and has won two SAG Awards with the Mad Men ensemble....
. It is Johnson's first feature length film, and received good reviews at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
Director's Fortnight.
Synopsis
Kelli, returning from her military tour of duty in the Middle East, has high hopes for resuming her old life in her midwestern hometown. Her hopes are gradually dashed as her relationships with her family and friends suffer; they have moved on, and she cannot adjust. She is unable to provide the attention her children need, she quits her dull factory job, she discovers her husband Mike's infidelity, drinks with her friends, then is stopped by the police while driving under the influence. During her court-ordered therapy session, she meets Bud, a charming war veteran. She undergoes a gradual breakdown, but persists in her efforts to reestablish her life.Cast
- Linda CardelliniLinda CardelliniLinda Edna Cardellini is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her roles as high school student Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks, as Velma Dinkley in the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and as Samantha Taggart on ER.- Early life :Cardellini was born in Redwood City,...
as Kelli - Michael ShannonMichael Shannon (actor)Michael Corbett Shannon is an American stage, film, and television actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Revolutionary Road...
as Mike - John SlatteryJohn SlatteryJohn M. Slattery, Jr. is an American actor and director, best known for his role as Roger Sterling on AMC's series Mad Men. He has been nominated for many awards, and has won two SAG Awards with the Mad Men ensemble....
as Bud - Talia BalsamTalia BalsamTalia Balsam is an American actress.-Early life:Balsam was born in New York City to actors Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten.-Career:...
as Julie - Emma Rayne LyleEmma Rayne LyleEmma Rayne Lyle is an American actress best known for her role as Emily Reddy in I Don't Know How She Does It, where she played Sarah Jessica Parker and Greg Kinnear's daughter. Lyle has completed seven films. She played a lead role in Predisposed, a film to be released in 2012...
as Jackie - Paul Sparks as Ed
- Rosie Benton as Brooke
- Louisa Krause as Shannon
- James Murtaugh as Mr. Miller
- Bonnie Swencionis as Cara Lee
- Wayne Pyle as Franklin
Production
Johnson explains that her impetus to start the project came from "talking to my male friend about his experiences. It was through talking with him about his divorce and stuff, that was sort of my first point of interest. He introduced me to a lot of his colleagues. Through him and through other means, I did meet a lot of women soldiers. We did a lot of research with women who have been deployed. Linda [Cardellini] did her own research in LA at the VA hospital, through other contacts and friends."Johnson was selected to attend the 2008 Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, where some scenes for Return were workshopped. The film project was also selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
CineMart in 2008, which connects filmmakers with co-production and film marketers. Following the Sundance Lab program, she was awarded the Adrienne Shelly Women Filmmakers Grant for production of Return, and in 2010 received a grant from film philanthropic group Cinereach
Cinereach
Cinereach is a nonprofit film funding organization in New York, NY, founded in 2006, which provides grants, awards, and an annual fellowship "to films from underrepresented perspectives." The organization also has partnerships with other film development organizations such as the Sundance...
.
In 2010, Johnson said, "Over the summer, we decided to move the production upstate [New York] in Newburgh, Beacon
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
, and New Windsor
New Windsor, New York
New Windsor is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was estimated at 25,244 in 2010 by the US Census.The Town of New Windsor is in the eastern part of the county, bordering the Town of Newburgh and the City of Newburgh....
. That area reminds me a lot of the town where I grew up, an Ohio river town that has been greatly affected by the economy." "On our last day of the shoot in Newburgh, a water main broke and the water started coming out brown. We looked around and it seemed like a sign that we shot in the right place." The film was shot in Super 16, distributed in DCP
Digital Cinema Package
A Digital Cinema Package is a collection of digital files used to store and convey Digital cinema audio, image, and data streams.The term has been defined by Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC in their recommendations for packaging of DC contents...
, and is the first feature film production for Meredith Vieira
Meredith Vieira
Meredith Louise Vieira is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She is best known for her roles as the original moderator of the ABC talk program The View and co-host of the long-running NBC News morning news program, Today...
Productions.
Reception
Return was the sole U.S. film selected for the 25-film 2011 Cannes Film Festival2011 Cannes Film Festival
The 64th annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 11 to May 22, 2011. American actor Robert De Niro served as the president of the jury for the main competition and French filmmaker Michel Gondry headed the jury for the short film competition...
Director's Fortnight. Following its premiere at the festival, Boston Globe reviewer Wesley Morris wrote, "I like Johnson's delicacy and discretion. She trusts Cardellini's natural, easygoing performance to show us what goes untold. The movie is modest, too, and its small emotional scale works. Without asking for pity or outrage, it's another movie about the unaccountable, unending drain of war."
Hollywood Reporter reviewer Todd McCarthy stated, "Return has quiet virtues and the distinction of focusing closely on one particular woman’s difficulty readjusting to being a wife and mother." Noting Cardellini's appearance in nearly every scene, the review continued, "she delivers by keeping you interested no matter how mundane the activity Kelli is performing. It’s a wholehearted performance". He noted Slattery's "amusing change-of-pace role", that Shannon "plays it absolutely straight for once", and credited Anne Etheridge's "mobile cinematography" with maintaining "a watchful air of intimacy."
Mark Adams (ScreenDaily.com) called the film "thoughtful and gently powerful," "subtle and simply told", noting that it "eschews the usual dramatic cues of the ‘soldier back home’ story", and called Cardellini's performance "terrific", "generating a real sense of warmth and affection but also a slight unease and distrust in those around her." He found Shannon's performance "equally impressive"; "his sheer presence and subtle performance bolsters Cardillini’s performance, making what on screen is a minor role seem more substantial." The review in Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
called the film "amiable, stylish, low-key", Cardellini's performance as "wholly credible", and Slattery's portrayal of Bud as a "welcome jolt of energy and humor", though director Johnson "takes audience interest rather too much for granted in the pic's first half."
Five reviewers for IndieWire
IndieWire
indieWIRE is a daily news site for the independent film community. It covers indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews...
gave the film grades of B+, B-, B+, B, and B.
External links
- Official web site
- Current Films. 2.1 Films.
- "Return makes its Cannes debut". IndieWire.com.