Rebuilding – Movie Review

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This is a heartfelt story of community and of farmers hoping to put their lives back together, literally and figuratively, after nature dealt them a blow.

The film doesn’t get into the hows and whys of the fires, but you see the devastation. You don’t see the flames; you see the darkness they left behind for the farmers. Do the people affected by these wildfires have what it takes to begin again after such a tragedy upended their lives? Where will they live? Is there work to be found?

The film focuses mainly on Dusty, a cattle rancher. He’s played by Josh O’Connor, a very impassioned actor you may know from movies such as “Challengers” and “Emma.” Our protagonist isn’t just rebuilding after a fire; he’s also trying to hold on to what little he has left after a messy divorce. Divorce took away seeing his daughter in the mornings and the ability to tuck her in at night; the fire took everything else. He gives the impression that he has let everyone walk all over him. Will he find the strength to reconstruct all he must?

He tries his hardest when he spends time with his daughter, Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre), to win her over. She has made it clear that he’s not the cool one. Mom, Ruby, played by Meghann Fahy, from “The White Lotus,” is better. She says things to him that give you the impression she has gotten specific ideas from what her mother has told her. It’s a passive-aggressive way for one parent to be considered the better, and Ruby nailed it. Callie seems to be embarrassed that he’s her father. He lost his farm. He doesn’t have internet. Callie insists on seeing the damage from the fire. He shows her and reminds her of the blue barn that once stood on the property, one he plans to… rebuild.

He and others in the same boat are temporarily given FEMA trailers to live in. It takes Dusty a while to extend his arm in friendship to his new campmates, most likely trying to believe that his being put out of house and home is temporary. Getting to know them means accepting the situation he’s in. He gets to know Mali (Kali Reis), who tells him her husband died staying back to protect their property. Knowing that his circumstances are the same as those of the other farmers here strikes him as difficult to comprehend.

He goes to the bank for a loan, and it’s finally explained to him that it was a high-severity burn and what that means for his future. The land can’t grow a crop for at least eight to ten years. What can they do for him? Pass him some pamphlets for aid.

Things don’t look good on that front, but with Callie he finally hits the sweet spot. There’s a girl, Lucy, for Callie to spend time with. Maybe Dad isn’t so bad after all. There’s a lovely scene where the three of them put glow-in-the-dark stars all around her new bedroom—a gentle reminder of the ability to move on.

Sadly, too many people in this country will relate to this film in ways they don’t want to. Still, it should not be overlooked by anyone for its powerful message about the strength of friendship and family. See this today.