Rachel River, the feature directorial debut of Sandy Smolan, is set in northern Minnesota and tells several intertwined stories of small-town American life.
Judith Guest's script captures local flavor with effective character portraits. The lead is a single thirtysomething divorced mother and journalist (Pamela Reed), whose choices are to remain lonely or accept one of her misfit suitors; a distinguished lady (Viveca Lindfors) facing the impending death of her husband; the village idiot (Zeljiko Ivanek), who may know the truth of rumors that a horde of cash was hidden on the property of a deceased townswoman.
The film won critical acclaim for its vivid, touching, and comic portrayal of life in rural Minnesota.
