In a world where the film industry is dominated by superheroes, furious cars, and lots and lots of explosions, it’s nice to be reminded that film can be much more than just all that. Sometimes a film like “Colewell,” about a woman coming to terms with her age and an uncertain future, is even more riveting than some billion-dollar blockbuster.
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In honor of “Colewell” getting released next month and the film recently earning two Independent Spirit Award nominations, we’re thrilled to give our readers an exclusive first look at the trailer for the upcoming drama.
“Colewell” tells the story of Nora, a middle-aged woman that is a fixture in her small community, as the postal worker. However, when her post office is being threatened with closure, Nora must come to terms with the possibility of forced retirement and the dread of imposed loneliness. The premise is simple, but the entire film is anchored by star Karen Allen’s incredible performance, which earned her an aforementioned Spirit nomination. The film’s second nom is in the John Cassavetes Award category, as the film is an example of creating touching, beautiful art on a micro-budget.
READ MORE: ‘Colewell’: Is Quietly Devastating & Karen Allen Is Tremendous [SFIFF Review]\
We were lucky enough to check out “Colewell” earlier this year, while it made the festival rounds. And in our review, we said, “As an introverted dissection of an every day, perhaps old-fashioned American woman, the film patiently sculpts one of the most well-defined character studies to debut in quite some time.”
The film stars Allen alongside Kevin J. O’Connor, Hannah Gross, and Catherine Kellner. “Colewell” is written and directed by Tom Quinn. The film is only his second feature, after 2008’s “The New Year Parade.”
“Colewell” will arrive on December 13.
Here’s the synopsis:
In tiny Colewell, Pennsylvania, the residents gather at the post office for mail and gossip, while the days pass quiet and serene. That is until news comes that the office is to close, and beloved clerk Nora (a marvelous Karen Allen) is left to fight for her job and reflect on the choices she has made that kept her in Colewell for so many years. Touching, with a hint of melancholy, Tom Quinn’s eloquent film is an ode to small-town life and the quiet emotions that come with nostalgia and memories of the past. Infusing Nora with integrity and grace, Allen captures the intimate and often private struggle that occurs later in life, when unexpected changes occur. Heartened by a great supporting cast including Hannah Gross and Kevin J. O’Connor, Colewell gorgeously captures rural America, while giving space to the beauty of time passing and reflecting on what determines a life well-lived.