Rachel River Reviews

The death of Svea (Aileen Cole), an eccentric old woman, has the town of Rachel River, Minnesota, abuzz. It appears that she touched several lives, including those of her boorish nephew, Marlyn Huutula (Craig T. Nelson); the local undertaker, Jack Canon (James Olson); and Mary Graving (Pamela Reed), a divorced mother of two and disc jockey who is the wary recipient of both Marlyn's and Canon's attentions. Adding to the general excitement is the rumor of buried fortune on Svea's property. In the week after her death, the money is located and each person comes to learn a little something about him- or herself and the neighbors. RACHEL RIVER is as spare as its synopsis, a cinematic short story so muted in tone and leisurely paced that an impatient viewer could well miss its special qualities, including the wonderful performances from the leads, the script's attention to detail and behavioral humor, the rich cinematography by Paul Elliott, and Arvo Part's evocative score.