Wildrose is a 1984 American independent drama film directed by John Hanson, produced by New Front Films, and distributed by Troma.[1] It stars Lisa Eichhorn and Tom Bower supported by a cast of largely nonprofessional actors, and is predominantly set and filmed in Minnesota's Iron Range.
| Wildrose | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Hanson |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Produced by | Sandra Schulberg |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Peter Stein |
| Edited by | Arthur Coburn |
| Music by |
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Production company | New Front Films |
| Distributed by | Troma |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Recently divorced from her abusive alcoholic husband (Stephen Yoakam), June's (Lisa Eichhorn) job as a miner in Minnesota's Mesabi Range becomes more challenging because of harassment from her male colleagues and a lack of support from her mother. She considers her independence, her family, and her future with fellow miner Rick (Tom Bower) as she develops a romantic relationship with him.[1][2]
The film was shot on location in Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range, including town scenes in Eveleth. Other scenes were filmed in Bayfield, Wisconsin.[3]
It was made for under $1 million (equivalent to $2.61 million in 2021).[4]
The film was selected for the Museum of Modern Art's New Films/New Directors series,[3][5] and was a finalist for the Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival.[5] It screened out of competition at the Berlin Film Festival[6] and at the Boston Film Festival.[7]
Ms. magazine called it "[as] visually rich as it is emotionally resonant."[8] The Los Angeles Times review wrote that the "small core of professional actors creates collides with the film's numerous self-conscious non-professionals, who inadvertently remind us that Eichhorn, Bower and others are, after all, 'acting' ... But the pluses outweigh the minuses."[1] Variety called Eichhorn's performance "moving, natural ... in a decidedly unglamorous role" and praised the camerawork as "extraordinary, vivid."[6]