A Love Song (2022) User Reviews

A simple but touching love story

[chenp-54708 · 7/10 · 20 April 2022]

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

The story is about two childhood sweethearts, both now widowed, share a night by a lake in the mountains. The narrative isn't anything special as we have seen similar stories like this presented in the past years of cinema. But due to Max Walker-Silverman's direction, the movie was still able to feel natural and touching at the same time. Silverman was able to keep the movie afloat with beautiful camerawork and some really good sound design. It makes the audience really feel like they are outside of the hills.

Actors Dale Dicky and Wes Studi in my opinion are some of the most underrated actors. Dicky and Studi's chemistry both help to keep the characters engaging with their performances helping to build their purpose. The nice atmosphere and soundtrack provided help to keep the movie like a melody. Storywise, it isn't anything special but I was still able to connect with this movie.

Rating: B.

Not something you would normally watch? Go see it anyway

[mlpaleochef · 8/10 · 25 August 2022]

While the cinematography showed nice views the picture was not that great. However, this film absolute blew me away; each scene was special! If you are not looking for action then please check out this film (if you are expecting action then this is not the film for you). It moves at a snails pace throughout while the set never much really changes. If you don't like camping then go watch this movie instead;)

Sweet and Thought-Provoking

[tomazulob · 8/10 · 29 January 2023]

A woman has parked her travel trailer in a Colorado park, waiting for a childhood friend to meet her there. The woman proceeds to meet a collection of odd residents/workders but no childhood friend for quiet a while. The film started out as a kind of Waiting for Godot setup, but it became a study in loneliness of people whose past lives seem to be disappearing. The film reminded me of Nomadland with its haunting loneliness and hopelessness of its characters, but A Love Song took a different turn and avoided the hopelessness. Still, the two main actors (Dale Dickey and Wes Studi) are recognizable from their innumerable background acting roles in past features and come across and relatable and true characters--i.e. Real human beings. This quiet indie film offered a lot of subtle thought-provoking ideas, particularly to people like me who are entering our 60's and 70's. It was a sweet film.

Can These Embers Reignite?

[Minnesota_Reid · 7/10 · 19 May 2022]

Two people in their twilight years, both now widowed, meet up to see if their childhood attraction remains strong enough to lead somewhere all these decades later.

The setting is austere, and the few other characters in the film have hinted-at stories of their own.

Very low key, but nicely acted and with a strong sense of place.

Pleasant But a Little Too Slight

[brentsbulletinboard · 7/10 · 5 December 2022]

As the clock of life ticks by, many of us begin to look back on our lives in terms of the opportunities we pursued and the regrets we hold over those we didn't. Those are the primary themes explored in writer-director Max Walker-Silverman's debut feature about a pair of childhood friends (Dale Dickey, Wes Studi) who reunite after many years apart at a remote Colorado campground. Their time together gives them a chance to reflect upon their lives, their memories and the loves they both lost. But where do they go from here now that they've reconnected? This tender, bittersweet arm's-length romance has its moments of humor, compassion and joyful reunion, as well as its elements of stilted awkwardness and protracted hesitation, reflecting the ambiguity the two principals are feeling after their long separation. It makes for some interesting dynamics set against the beautifully photographed backdrop of the Western wilderness. However, despite these strengths, the script feels a little thin with an underdeveloped narrative and back story, issues that are slightly exacerbated by the picture's slow but tolerable pacing. While it's true this offering proves that a film doesn't always need a complex, densely packed screenplay chock full of dramatic heft to be effective, it nevertheless seems that "A Love Song" could have benefitted from a little more substance. Still, this one has its merits, having deservedly earned Independent Spirit Award nominations for Dickey's lead performance and as a candidate for the competition's John Cassavettes Award. This is the kind of film that makes a good choice for a cozy weekend afternoon while curled up on the couch, and, thankfully, its economical 1:21:00 runtime is just long enough to make it enjoyable without becoming tedious - a nice little diversion without becoming tiresome.

You'll get it if you get it

[bobcperkins · 9/10 · 1 October 2022]

Looking over other reviews, what I see in the negative reviews are the things that make this movie so good. Is it slow? Absolutely. And on purpose. Not much "happens?" I guess so, if you think life is the place where nothing happens. I do wonder whether most people under the age of 40 or 50 will get this movie. Which makes the age of the director a bit of a surprise. My wife and I (both in our 60's) found this movie to be a lovely, lovely thing, inside and out. It's pensive and moving and joyful and sad and magical..you know, like life. And one scene (to avoid spoilers I'll just call it the first gravediggers scene) is so funny I had to watch it again twice. Quirky brilliance, that. See it on a big screen if you can because the setting is one of the characters. (I'm astounded that one review calls the scenery boring. Compared to what? Exploding Death Stars?) If you need CGI and sharp snappy dialogue, go elsewhere. If you can watch the unfolding of a small story that's really everyone's story, this movie could well be for you.

The landscape is the star

[tseib · 6/10 · 19 February 2023]

This is a melancholy, impressionistic movie about aging, loss, and the mystery of solitude. While the story line is simple and thin, the handful of characters who inhabit it convey the ambiguity and uneasiness of real life so naturalistically that it almost feels like a documentary. Not all viewers will be interested in experiencing this level of lonely introspection set amid the stark barrenness of the American west, waiting for "something to happen." But another type of viewer will find the relative wildness of the setting calming, reminding us of our own actual journeys and mental escapes into the almost incomprehensibly large landscape of this part of the country--a place where you can be both undisturbed and nearly forgotten. And in this movie the landscape itself seems to be an inquisitor, stripping bare civilized pretensions and routines with the oppressive gravity of solitude and unlimited time. Aside from being drawn with laughably impossible mechanical skills, the lead female character comes across as both frighteningly realistic and distinctly unappealing. Though she shows positive traits like self-sufficiency, curiosity, and generosity, she also seems uncomfortable in her own skin--making the viewer squirm and wonder if she's always been this way or whether grief and advancing age have made her so tense and enigmatic. The pacing and feel of the thing is so sober and bare-bones that it's surprising to find a touch of Wes Anderson in some of the incidental characters who momentarily break the silence.

Beautiful

[roycenow · 10/10 · 8 August 2022]

This movie was utterly beautiful in every way. I did not know that I needed to witness strength and vulnerability in silence and was tremendously moved by Dale Dickey's honest and transparent performance. I can now count two times that I have been in awe inspired by an actor's performance when motionless and silent: (1) was watching Anthony Hopkins's heart break in Remains of the Day, and now (2) Dale Dickey letting go of a romantic fantasy and confront a deeper level of grief in A Love Song. My sincerely thanks to everyone on this production. It's been three days since I've seen it, and the impact of the movie is still felt acutely. Bless you and your humanity.

Mellow, slowburning portrait of an old woman living in the desert

[imseeg · 6/10 · 29 September 2022]

Any bad? Most likely not suited for those folks who arent into slowburning stories, because this story really takes it's time to unfold itself and even when it unfolds nothing much happens, but that is not a bad thing at all...

The good; this movie was directed, written and edited by debuting director Max Walker-Silverman and it is a promising debut, because this director knows how to evoke emotions without using dialogues. There are lots of moments of sheer silence, with only the sound of the desert wind blowing. And it soothes. And it moved me. That's quite an achievement that not many directors are ever able to manage. Chapeau!

Of course this debut movie was made with a tiny financial budget and one can tell by the below average quality of the photography. But that is only a minor criticism.

The old actors, whom I vaguely knew from years before, are delivering a solid performance. It's a full on actor's movie actually and for those who are into a mellow, slowburning portrait about life and love in the desert, this is not a bad choice.

Great beginning and end, but falls short in the middle

[ericsinclair3 · 4/10 · 14 August 2022]

The movie does a great job of painting a picture of a grieving women who is desperate to rekindle an old flame after the loss of her husband. It also does a great job of showing her finally moving on when that potential relationship doesn't work out, but for all the brilliance at the beginning and end, the middle of the movie, where that potential romance is being explored, falls flat.

After watching 30-40 minutes of Faye depressingly trudge around, with a humorous scene or two and a serious scene or two, we finally get to meet Lito. For the next 30 minutes we can see the two start reminiscing and the fire they once had start to return. This culminates in a kiss over ice cream, which cuts into the next morning and ...nothing. After a short walk Lito exclaims he can't do this and drives off.

Going from their first passionate kiss to "I can't do this, bye" in the span of literally 2 minutes just seemed rushed. No attempt to explore or explain what Lito is feeling and why he is making this decision.

I think if they had taken an additional 30 minutes to explore the romance a little more, with Lito then coming to the realization that he didn't want to rekindle the romance (assumingly realizing Faye can never be a replacement for his own deceased spouse) would have made for a much more compelling story. Even an extra 10 -15 minutes with him explaining to Faye why he doesn't want to pursue the romance any farther would have been alot more satisfying than him just saying "I can't" and running off screen. I will give it 4 stars, because the build up at the beginning and ending were really good, but the middle to me seems rushed and fell flat.

Sweet

[kdcrowley-28003 · 8/10 · 10 January 2023]

It's a 7 but it gets a bonus point for just being so damned sweet. The writing is dear. The direction tender without becoming syrupy. The acting is heartfelt perfection.

Elders reunite with all the same adolescent awkwardness of their youth. Time may have weathered bodies but their hearts are fresh as spring.

She says, "Come inside." So we get to go, go inside lives lived. Hearts beating. People gently reconnecting.

It's playful and tender and quiet and touching and beautiful in ways I did not expect.

I love a good story well-told. This is a good slice of life story told so well it captures the exquisite joy and sorrow, expectation and disappointment, truth and beauty, of life.

Better Than Average Romance Film - A Love Song

[arthur_tafero · 6/10 · 13 October 2022]

Warning! There are no special effects, cartoons, or superheroes in this film. Since that represents about 70% of all currently released films in 2022, it automatically makes it more interesting than that 70%. This is a sweet film about two older adults who have not seen each other for several years. Both have had relationships that ended in the loss of their significant other. Now, several years later, they will try to reconnect in a remote desert location. An interesting idea that has a few possibilities. The film delivers what it promises; life, like a baseball game, is not over til its over (Yogi Berra).

I was looking forward to seeing this film

[jzchfxzmks · 1/10 · 4 September 2022]

Dale Dickey and Wes Studi are excellent and interesting actors.. The story, however, was flat and absolutely droll. I had to make myself watch the film to the last frame. There was no prophetic insights or subtle quality of characters shifts which left me with wanting more. The supporting characters and their storylines were stupid and did not make sense and they came from out of now where to enter the story. There was a lack of believability. Most importantly, I was never engaged with any of the characters to care about them. The film was one dimensional. And, the cinematography was boring, which was a missed opportunity. The film was a waste of time, sadly.

Misery Loves Company

[jisforjoe · 6/10 · 24 August 2022]

Is it really that easy to perform engine swaps in the middle of nowhere?

This film is NOT for everyone. Moviegoers expecting a neatly-outlined narrative will be bored out of their minds. The first 20 minutes alone are spent riding shotgun with the main character's lonely vigil-waiting for a rendezvous that may never even happen.

Those who DO stick with 'A Love Song' will be treated to a meandering, bittersweet drama that's exceedingly human and-for lack of a better word-brutally regular. This film portrays weariness, disappointment, and navigating grief so viscerally. Misery loves company, and we end up being the company.

The film subverts our expectations for a happy ending or a-ha moment of resolution in favor of something much more true to life.

Worth The Wait

[jdianahall · 10/10 · 15 August 2022]

Wes Studi demonstrated his romantic side in this film. Dale Dickey showed her ability to bring humor and tenderness to her side of the film relationship. The other characters added to the humor and humanity. Even the wildlife and flora and starlit nights contributed to the fine feeling conveyed. This is a rare combination of music and many other joys that can lift us up, if we allow them.

Surprisingly Captivating

[Rod_Duke · 8/10 · 6 January 2023]

This flick caught my eye. The limited dialogue somewhat makes you want to keep watching to see where it is going. The director does an excellent job with the scenery in Colorado.

If you happen to be an RVer or a camper, this will get your attention as well. There are millions of campers out there in travel trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes, you name it. The price ranges could be from a few hundred dollars to a million or more.

Dale Dickey plays the part excellently. You immediately feel for her. Limited money, drinking warm beer, fishing for food and seemingly down on her luck, but up on her hope for something special that just might happen. A "flame" from the past.

The actors are good, and the set ups are perfectly aligned to the story line.

The brothers and little sister are an interesting attempt - I think - at a little comedy. It did make me smile, and her directed them with the motor as the transferred it was a nice touch. A side story line or two was needed, and this certainly did the trick.

In the end, what happens with love. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it does not.

I gave this film 8 starts, because 1. I liked it. 2. Good directing and good acting and 3. Good filmography and scenery. This director will get bigger budget films soon, I am sure.

Will I watch it again. I just might, to see what I might have done differently in the filming and timing of certain scenes.

I give it a thumbs up for sure. Enjoy! Rod.

Definitely Not Worth the Wait

[herbqedi · 4/10 · 22 August 2022]

Warning * SPOILERS *

VERY OVERRATED INDEPENDENT - a few charming scenes, lots of dead space, culminating in a cliched anticlimax.

The good: Dale Dickey's performance is a tour de force. Slowly but relentlessly, she conveys a combination of realistic acceptance with indomitable spirit.

The wait: We spend the first 50+% of the film waiting for Wes Studi to show up. It's a slow go with Dale's character's old radio playing the part of Tom Hanks' volleyball in Castaway. There are three vignettes as we are waiting. Five cowhands with only the young one talking want to unbury their dead father from the campsite because a windmill blocking the view has been built. Think Larry, Darryl, and Darrel from Newhart. Two female lovers invite Dale to a very nice dinner where she is asked by one whether she should pop the question to the other; that takes about three minutes all in. Best from my perspective was the enthusiastic mailman (mail-boy?) hoping against hope that he can deliver the letter Dale is waiting for.

Finally, Wes shows up. Wes Studi has long been a personal favorite. His performance is terrific here and he is certainly ungodly handsome for his purported age.

Unfortunately, after three very nice moments, It turns into a two-night stand with a trite bromide ending the 20-minute exploration. After 5 minutes of morning, Dale gets her motor back and drives back home after a couple of very nice vignettes.

To me, it was pointless albeit a lot better than the ugly and relentlessly slow political polemic called Nomadland. Since, Nomadland has a lot of fans and I certainly found A Love Song better than that, if you liked Nomadland, definitely give this one a shot. If your idea of a sad but excellent Love Story is more like Brief Encounter, take a pass.

A touching ballad of love and loss

[trinaboice · 9/10 · 24 July 2022]

IN A NUTSHELL: Faye (Dale Dickey) is a lone traveler biding her time fishing, birding, and stargazing at a rural Colorado campground as she awaits the arrival of Lito (Wes Studi), a figure from her past who is navigating his own tentative and nomadic journey across the rugged West. Like the country music that has traditionally channeled the heartbreak and resilience of Americans in search of themselves and others, A Love Song weaves a lyrical and ultimately joyful refrain out of the transformative act of being alone -and reminds us that love can nourish and mystify at any age.

This lovely, simple movie feels like a sad ballad. It was written and directed by Max Walker-Silverman.

THINGS I LIKED: Dale Dickey's face has so much character and her acting appears effortless. I've only ever seen her play small roles, so I was thrilled to see her star in her own feature film. Will she be nominated for an Oscar?

Wes Studi is another talented actor who has mostly been on the sidelines, so it's nice to see him play a leading role with Dale Dickey. They are fantastic. You can see their deep pain.

Beautiful cinematography.

The subtle humor is quirky and welcome.

Look closely for the symbolism as Faye represents mankind. I especially loved the visual when she's sitting on top of a mountain and lays down, becoming part of the mountain itself.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: It's a slow burn. Some viewers will get tired of waiting for something to "happen".

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be completely bored. So will some adults.

Kissing.

THEMES: Love and loss Second chances Childhood sweethearts Romance Loneliness Memories Reinventing yourself Waiting for what's next How our lives touch one another

FUNNY LINES: * "Maam, we'd like you to have our canoe. It'll do you good for recreation and romantic excursions." - little cowgirl

Great scenery, but a slow, sad story.

[dkarmol · 4/10 · 24 October 2023]

I'm sorry but this was just too slow and sad for me. I'm widowed myself, so maybe that's it. But this just didn't quite come together for me. Not enough story, too much nice photography.

What are we supposed to take away from this, after all? That life is short- so enjoy each moment? OK, but let's add just a little excitement and drama. The main character was just too melancholy and boring to keep my interest. There were a couple of good scenes, but not enough to sustain even the 90 minutes this film played out.

I'm not saying it's a bad movie, but I can't really recommend it as great entertainment. I watched the whole movie and came away thinking that I wished I'd watched something else.

Loved it.

[dansearles0 · 8/10 · 8 October 2022]

I thought this film was well conceived, beautiful to look at, and the acting was superb.

I laughed considerably at the young Cowboys that came to visit Dale Dickey's character over and over again, and Miss Dickey's face and her acting reveal great depth. She is a marvelous talent. As is Wes Studi.

I could see this turned into a TV series of some type, And would definitely pay to see more of the characters.

I like I liked the story, the pace and the music is terrific. Frankly my only complaint about the music is I couldn't find it on iTunes to buy the album.

I would've like the ending to be a little less bitter sweet but it's helpful and I can live with that. All in all terrific.

Fascinating

[evening1 · 8/10 · 31 March 2023]

C'mon, with the Baby Boomers aging, we should see more movies like this!

A lovely, no-makeup with lines-in-her-face Dale Dickey quietly shines as Faye, a 60ish woman camping at Colorado's Miramonte Reservoir, expecting a guy she liked from the distant past to show up at any time.

The chemistry between Faye and Lito (Wes Studi) is delightful, as they resume a conversation as if it left off days earlier. They eat cage-caught crayfish, share a beer and ice-cream cones, swim, canoe, and sing on double guitar before sharing a warm kiss.

I read that Max Walker-Silverman had Ms. Dickey in mind in writing his first feature-length film, and she could not be more right in the role of a widow who lives unapologetically while belying a little stress over her looks.

The storyline could not be simpler, but it defies expectations. I'm a little older than Ms. Dickey, and I was rooting for a happy ending, yet my knowledge of life weighed against it. "I can't," says Lito, and Faye doesn't fight it. Instead, she helps him to pack up.

Shot in an almost painterly way, against a hard-scabble background of the rural West, with quiet sensitivity to wildlife and the stars, this is one beautiful film. My deepest congratulations to the young director, who is way wise beyond his years.

Eh strang movie really, couple stars for the scenery

[sikihac · 3/10 · 26 January 2023]

This was a strange movie but has great nature photography at least. The beginning has a lobster meal and fireworks at a lonely campground somewhere, nah those days are gone sorry crammed to the hilt now. The surface story is ok I guess, the idea of waiting for some old flame to show up there and whatever is supposed to come of that, usually these camper dweller nomads are way too idiosyncratic and used to their own ways to be of any use to the opposite sex though, maybe if the other had a remote farm or such it could work but since older relationships aren't so tied into family life with children and such and are more personality based the above reasons kinda preclude such, disaster waiting to happen.

Another aspect is the tranzformer man we see as the main character, just does not work sorry and the cult certainly isn't hiding it in these latter days that's for sure. I was sad to see an actor who previously played in the likes of Dances With Wolves and other movies coming to this to probably pay some bills, similar to freeman, willis, de niro and others. Straight to dvd titles that are atrocious filler. Still it was a bit quirky for a background thing while doing productive things. I certainly wouldn't rent it or look for it but this showed up in the free section and gave it a shot eh.

Alone but not lonely

[ilovesaturdays · 9/10 · 27 July 2023]

What a great movie! I'm totally in awe of the director, Max Walker-Silverman. Apparently, this is his debut film. I think he has a great career ahead of him. Minimal dialogue, great actors and amazing scenery have done the trick it seems. This film is so in tune with nature that it has an organic feel to it.

Dale Dickey & Wes Studi are phenomenal actors and I am happy to see how beautifully they have been used here. Dickey's expressive face succeeds in portraying vast swathes of emotion. All her hopes and disappointments are very clearly etched on her face.

The film is very successful in portraying the dilemmas of old age. On the one hand, old people can struggle with loneliness. While on the other hand, after having lost someone they have loved for an eternity, they find it hard to replace that person with someone else. C'est la vie!

ONE FOR THE BOOKS...!

[masonfisk · 10/10 · 20 July 2023]

A love story for a certain age group of the population that manages to be an exemplar of nuance & patience. At a remote camp ground in the Midwest, Dale Dickey, seems to be waiting for someone & bides her time by sticking to a routine which involves having a morning cup of joe, dinner of crawfish she catches from a nearby pond while listening to a radio which seems to always have the right tune on. The only visitors Dickey gets is the postman, a nearby same sex couple who are in the throes of a possible proposal & a group of diggers led by a precocious moppet who kindly asks Dickey if she'll move her vehicle but seeing her expected guest hasn't arrived, they shrug & politely go about their business. Soon someone does arrive in the form of Wes Studi (& his dog) who turns out to be a long ago (back in high school) crush which may've turned out to have been something if not for each individual finding their respective mates (who've since passed) & led different lives. The film then settles into the possibility of this couple entering into a new phase of their lives w/each other but are both parties on board? Eschewing a master class in acting, Dickey, a stalwart character actress (I just saw her in Showtime's Let the Right One series) alongside Studi are nothing short of perfection as their body language & laconic dialogue speaks volumes as to where they are in their lives & what a past it has been for the pair. A shame it wasn't recognized by the Academy during its release year.

An underappreciated sweet gem of a film

[lvilardo-551-49220 · 9/10 · 13 March 2023]

I understand why this film may have limited appeal. It's slow and not a whole lot actually happens. Many people felt the same way about Banshees of Inisherin, another film I loved. And that's a shame because A Love Song tells a poignant story that sticks with one and features a brilliant performance by Dale Dickey, a prolific character actress starring in her first leading role, a role she inhabits without ego and, apparently, makeup.

We meet Faye outside her trailer at a desolate and barren campground somewhere out west. The first shot of her is a closeup of her face and we see she's as weathered as her old trailer and surroundings. I couldn't help but think of the opening lyrics from Brandi Carlile's The Story, "All of these lines across my face ...". Faye's daily routine consists largely of trapping crawdads in the nearby river and eating them for dinner (and maybe lunch and breakfast) and waiting for the daily visit by the rural mail carrier and his mail laden mule. We later learn she is waiting for a letter from an expected visitor and the mail carrier seems as invested in her hopes as she is.

Her routine is broken by a bizarre but satisfying visit from a group of cowboys and their wise-beyond-her-years young spokesgirl. We never really learn why the cowboys are mostly mute. They've come to dig up the body of their "pop pops" because his view has been ruined by a nearby oil derrick since erected. Problem is he is buried under Faye's camper and she explains her anticipated visitor has been told to find her at that site and she dare not move. No worries, the girl explains, they'll come back. That's a scene that would be more at home in a Coen Brothers or Wes Anderson movie but, for reasons I can't fully understand, it seems perfectly at ease with the rest of the film. (We also learn it's apparently quite easy to transfer an engine from one truck to another and back again with no winch and few tools.)

She is invited to dinner by some fellow campers, a lesbian couple struggling with commitment issues. The scene gives us the opportunity to learn a little bit of Faye's back story.

Finally her long awaited visitor arrives. We learn that Lito, well played by Wes Studi, like Faye, lost his spouse some years ago. Turns out they once had something of a relationship and this reunion seems meant to determine whether their likely final chapters in life will be spent alone or together. To say more would be a spoiler.

Comparisons to Nomadland are understandable and inevitable. There are certainly similarities but this one is content to focus on Faye and her story and mostly skip the larger social commentary. As a result and contrary to what one might expect, A Love Song is the more powerful film.

I wish more people would see it because it deserves a much wider audience. And, while it has been nominated for and won some more obscure awards, the Oscar's failure to recognize Dickey's performance is a real shame.