Northfork
The year is 1955, and a great flood is coming to Northfork, Montana. A new hydroelectric dam is about to be installed in the mountains above the town, ready to submerge the valley in the name of progress. It is the responsibility of a six-man Evacuation Committee to relocate the townsfolk to higher ground. Most have duly departed, but a few stubborn stragglers remain – among them a priest caring for a sickly orphan, a boy whose fevered visions are leading him to believe he is a member of a roaming band of lost angels desperately searching for a way home.
Insights
Plot Summary
In 1935, a group of men are sent into the valley that will soon be submerged by the Hoover Dam. Their task is to remove all remnants of civilization before the water rises, including dismantling homes and graves. Among them is Willet, a widower haunted by the memory of his lost son, who grapples with the destruction of his past and the looming inundation.
Critical Reception
Northfork received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its unique visual style and ambitious themes but found its narrative somewhat oblique and its pacing slow. Audiences were similarly divided, appreciating its artistic approach but often struggling with its abstract storytelling.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its striking visual imagery and atmospheric mood.
- Criticized for an often confusing and meandering narrative.
- The film's allegorical nature and slow pace were polarizing for viewers.
Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a split appreciation. Many enjoyed the film's artistic merit, haunting atmosphere, and thought-provoking themes, while others found the story too abstract, slow, and emotionally distant.
Fun Fact
The film was shot entirely in and around the real town of Northfork, California, which was not submerged by the Hoover Dam, but a fictional town was created for the narrative.
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