Kelly Reichardt
Kelly Reichardt is a most unlikely ambassador of current American independent cinema. Her films are not remotely violent or boundary pushing. She has never competed for a Palme d’Or or piqued the attention of Oscar voters. She does not write scintillating dialogue and shocking twists are not in her vocabulary. She is certainly political but her work has not reached a remotely wide enough audience to thrust her into the discourse dominated by provocateurs like Michael Moore. She is not out to…
Defining films
In their own words
I was steeped in European cinema, experimental film, structural film. The idea of not telling a story as we know it from Hollywood. Not relying on dialogue. Not relying on editing... I was attracted to films where the camera wasn't the main thing.
My first film, River of Grass (1994), was very influenced by the French New Wave, by Godard and Truffaut, and also by Wim Wenders.
I was steeped in European cinema, experimental film, structural film. I liked Akerman, Straub-Huillet, Bresson, Antonioni. I was attracted to films where the camera wasn't the main thing. It was this objective thing.
I definitely watched some Wages of Fear and Aguirre and stuff like that. I watched a bunch of westerns. I watched some Malick. I watched Gerry just because it's a good film about walking.