Plainsong

In 1983 I saw Plainsong at the annual Filmfestival and have never forgotten it. It's a beautiful poetic film and refreshing in being plain. The hopes and expectations (and disappointments) of 3 young women is filmed very lovely and realistically in the Nebraska of the pioneers. Even after 26 years I remember clearly some scenes that impressed and moved me. In my life I've seen thousands of films and this one is definitely in my Top 10. Ed Stabile proved being an excellent and talented director and writer. Plainsong won the Press Prize at the International Film Festival in Antwerp in '83. It's a lovely film to never forget.

This is one of the most lyrical, simple and sweet westerns ever made - and NOBODY (except Leonard Maltin, who gave it 3 1/2 stars) appears to have seen it!

The premise is simple. Three young ladies ( one with the very Victorian name of Charity) meet and bond as they head west for marriages with men they haven't met. One jokes that perhaps they'll meet some western "rogues". Well, they get a lot more than that. From struggling with abuse and death, to learning to love someone even in the face of indifference, to a genuine western gunfight, this movie is really about how people deal with Life.

The director, Ed Stabile, is a film editor. One surprising thing about this film is it's "non"-editing. Stabile locks the camera down for certain key scenes and just lets it run. In one unforgettable shot, the ladies meet - and just cry. And cry. And cry... and get over it. In another, someone has to arrange a funeral. We follow them into the local cabinet maker(he does coffins on the side), and watch them haggle over the price. He at least has the good taste to apologize for it being so steep.

All in all, a wonderful film (and not as heavy as this review sounds). If you can find it anywhere, watch it. And don't forget - the Nebraska locations were shot in New Jersey!