Watch Once Upon a River

Once Upon a River is a 2019 independent drama film directed by Haroula Rose and based on the novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell. The movie follows the story of Margo Crane, a 15-year-old girl living in rural Michigan, who sets out on a journey down the Stark River in search of her estranged mother. The film features an outstanding cast of actors and stunning cinematography that capture the essence of the American Midwest.

The main character of the film, Margo Crane (played by Kenadi DelaCerna), is a fiercely independent young woman who has been living with her father after her mother abandoned the family. Margo's father is a troubled man who is struggling with his own demons, and after a violent incident, Margo decides to leave home in order to search for her mother. She takes with her a rifle and her father's ashes, determined to find her place in the world and her own sense of identity.

As Margo embarks on her journey down the river, she meets a colorful cast of characters, including a Native American man named Smoke (Tatanka Means) and an older, weathered man named Eddy (John Ashton), whose own past is intertwined with the river. The encounters with these characters force Margo to confront her own prejudices, fears, and desires, and to grow into a woman who can face the challenges of the world with courage and grace.

The film's plot is driven by Margo's character development, as the young woman discovers herself and the world around her. The river serves as both a physical and metaphorical journey for Margo, as she navigates the dangerous waters while also navigating the challenges of growing up in a hostile environment. The movie highlights the beauty of the natural world while also exploring the complexities of human relationships.

The performances in the film are excellent, particularly the lead role played by Kenadi DelaCerna. DelaCerna brings a subtle intensity and emotional depth to her portrayal of Margo, capturing the character's defiance and vulnerability in equal measure. John Ashton delivers a poignant performance as Eddy, a man haunted by his past and struggling to find meaning in his own life. Tatanka Means brings a quiet strength to the role of Smoke, a man who has his own connection to the river and the land.

The cinematography in the movie is stunning, capturing the natural beauty and harsh realities of the river and the surrounding landscape. The film is shot in a naturalistic style, with long takes and a muted color palette that emphasizes the rawness of the environment. The river becomes a character in its own right, with its ever-changing currents representing the unpredictable nature of life itself.

One of the themes of the movie is the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Margo faces many challenges on her journey down the river, including physical danger, loneliness, and the harsh realities of life in rural America. Through these trials, she discovers her own strength and learns to rely on herself and the people she meets to navigate the rough waters of life. The ending of the film is both hopeful and bittersweet, leaving the viewer with a sense of the beauty and fragility of life.

Overall, Once Upon a River is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant film that explores the complexities of the human experience. The movie's strong performances and stunning cinematography transport the viewer into the heart of rural America and the river that runs through it, and leave a lasting impression of the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.

Once Upon a River is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 72.