A teenage boy must deal with his mother's complicated response after his father temporarily abandons them to take a menial and dangerous job.A teenage boy must deal with his mother's complicated response after his father temporarily abandons them to take a menial and dangerous job.A teenage boy must deal with his mother's complicated response after his father temporarily abandons them to take a menial and dangerous job.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
28K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Paul Dano(screenplay by)
- Zoe Kazan(screenplay by)
- Richard Ford(based on the book by)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Paul Dano(screenplay by)
- Zoe Kazan(screenplay by)
- Richard Ford(based on the book by)
- Stars
- Awards
- 6 wins & 25 nominations
Videos8
Richard L. Olsen
- Older Policemanas Older Policeman
- (as Richard Olson)
Lex Anastasia
- Ladyas Lady
- (uncredited)
Avery Bagenstos
- Football Playeras Football Player
- (uncredited)
Chris Bodelle
- Shopperas Shopper
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Paul Dano(screenplay by)
- Zoe Kazan(screenplay by)
- Richard Ford(based on the book by)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Set in 1950s Montana, "Wildlife" shows and tells the drama and angst that a teenage boy, Joe, goes through, witnessing both his parents split up in his presence. His father, Jerry, loses his job. And though he was offered his job back, he refuses to take it back because he "won't work for those kind of people anymore". So instead, he takes a job fighting a forest fire, which his wife, Jeanette, is dead set against, both for safety reasons, and because she's convinced that he will be unfaithful while away. But he leaves anyway. And yet, without anything happening to him, or any evidence of hanky-panky on his part, she acts the way one would expect her to act had he perished in the fire, or if she had found out that he had been unfaithful while away. This fact causes Joe to acquire uneasy feelings toward his mother. His father does return however. But the three are no happier for it, as Jeanette has taken up with a new significant other in her life. And Jerry reacts furiously against this. The parents wind up separating as she moves to take up a teaching job in Oregon, while Joe continues to live with his father. And then, she suddenly announces that she's taking the bus to visit over the weekend. Perhaps in an odd way, this movie combines both a satisfactory and unsatisfactory ending.
- Genre
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated PG-13 for thematic material including a sexual situation, brief strong language, and smoking
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Paul Dano requested the rights to adapt Richard Ford's novel into this movie he received the following response: "I am grateful to you for your interest in my book, but I should also say this in hopes of actually encouraging you. My book is my book, your picture, were you to make it, is your picture. Your movie maker's fidelity to my novel is of no great concern to me. Establish your own values, means, goal. Leave the book behind so it doesn't get in the way."
- GoofsAt 1:05:47, when Jeanette is standing near Joe, her lipstick is faded. At 1:05:57, when she turns around to put her arms in the coat, It's dark again.
- ConnectionsFeatured in CTV News at Six Toronto: Episode dated 10 September 2018 (2018)
- SoundtracksSincerely
Written by Harvey Fuqua & Alan Freed
Performed by The Moonglows
Courtesy of Geffen Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Top review
Restrained yet heartfelt.
I have so much respect for restrained filmmaking for which this movie is an example. Its steady pace and tasteful design gives it authenticity, allowing you to feel like you are living the life of the main character Joe. The acting is superb and the characters are living, breathing individuals filled with hopes dreams and independence. Though Jeanette falters at times, she is doing what is she sees is necessary for her and her son's survival. The emotion on her face, flickering like a shorted lightbulb, portrays her fragility with great depth. The score of the film is great. The story, though maybe too subdued for some, stays with you long after this earnest movie reaches its resolution.
helpful•8530
- collin-sandoe
- Nov 5, 2018
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Дике життя
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,050,616
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $104,589
- Oct 21, 2018
- Gross worldwide
- $3,321,367
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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