Rebuilding

by Mike McGranaghan

Partway through Rebuilding, I realized that it reminded me very much of A Love Song, the touching 2022 minimalist drama about two old flames trying to see if they can make sense of their shattered lives by reconnecting. Then the end credits revealed that both pictures share the same writer/director. Max Walker-Silverman is in the small but important group of filmmakers who are interested in observing their characters during tiny, significant moments. His new tale addresses big ideas in an intimate fashion.

The taciturn Dusty (Josh O’Connor) lost his Colorado ranch during a devastating wildfire. Now he lives in a makeshift government-run trailer park alongside others who lost their homes. A small community forms among these people with nowhere to go. Uncertain of what his next step should be, Dusty works to reconnect with his ex-wife Ruby (Drop’s Meghann Fahy) and daughter Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre).

Rebuilding does not have a plot, per se. If you’re waiting for something overt to happen, you’ll be waiting a very long time. Instead, the movie invites us to watch Dusty as he interacts with others. If you pay attention to his body language, what he says, when he says it, and how he relates to those around him, an entire story unfolds about a man devastated by the loss of the world as he knew it. A man struggling to figure out what comes next. A man desperate for connection during a time when proceeding alone feels terrifying.

Josh O’Connor is having quite a year, following up his sensitive turn in The History of Sound with an equally sensitive one here. The beauty of his performance is that he doesn’t need to speak a lot to express a lot. His eyes allow Dusty to say more than words ever could. O’Connor is one of those actors who never seems the same in any two films. He creates distinct mannerisms and ways of talking for each character he plays. That’s certainly true for Dusty, whose complicated emotions are palpable every second he’s onscreen.

The supporting players add extra meaning to Dusty’s journey. He finds himself moved by Ruby’s compassion, Callie-Rose’s unconditional love, and the support of his neighbors. There are no scenes where Dusty outwardly expresses what he’s learned or gained from any of them. They’re not needed. The ensemble works collectively to make it crystal clear.

A subplot involving Callie-Rose’s grandmother (played by Amy Madigan) isn’t developed enough to make the impact it’s intended to, which is disappointing because – as anyone who has seen Weapons was recently reminded – Madigan is always a force onscreen. Otherwise, Rebuilding is sweet and uplifting. If this movie doesn’t touch your heart, you may not have one.

---