Here is the first look at Michelle Williams, Shirley Henderson and Zoe Kazan in Kelly Reichardt’s historical drama “Meek’s Cutoff,” a film based on the infamous ill-fated Stephen Meek-led expedition from Fort Laramie to Willamette Valley in 1845.
The image alone illustrates the harsh, desolate Oregon desert where lensing took place, with the reportedly grueling production — which saw illness befall many of the cast and crew — becoming an experience not unlike that of the party that took the path with Meek those many years ago; that authenticity is likely come across on screen.
“It was really hot when we got there, and then it got very, very bitterly cold and we were in these thin cotton calico dresses, and it was just grueling,” Kazan previously revealed. “We were working long hours every day. The physical conditions were really difficult. I think it will all be great for the movie because they’re supposed to be under extreme duress, but you know, it’s real.”
And co-star Paul Dano confirmed the arduous conditions recently telling us that the shoot was “treacherous. It was awesome, it was great. We filmed on real locations in the desert out in southeastern Oregon. From our motel we’d have to drive two hours down some dust path and we were working with oxen every day. The first week, people were getting heat stroke, and by week three the weather had changed and somebody got hypothermia. I think I can truly say about that film — people think the movies are nice things and are glamorous — this wasn’t.”
Neal Huff, Will Patton and Bruce Greenwood also star in the film, Reichardt’s follow up to 2008’s tiny tale of desperation “Wendy And Lucy,” which will feature the work of cinematographer Chris Blauvelt, a Gus Van Sant and Noah Baumbach regular crew member who recently worked on Tom Ford’s “A Single Man.”
The film will compete for the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival and will likely see a theatrical release sometime in 2011.