Review of Wildlife (2018) by Netflic — 01 Nov 2018

This movie is an adaptation of a book with the same name, and it describes a family in a small Montana town in 60's.

This is to some degree a coming-of-age story since we see it developing through the eyes of a 14-year-old Joe.

But there is much more to it.

I could see some symbolism: wild fires raging just outside their town also seem to destroy Joe's family.

I am at a loss trying to pinpoint the movie's main idea. Is it a dissolution of a family, or a rather undesirable role of women in the middle of the last century? Is it a noble but often misguided idea of a constant move to new frontiers, small, suffocating towns, leaving behind support system and the familiarity of established life while searching for meaning of life?  It's probably all of it, in its complex intermingling.

Excellent performances from all protagonists.

The film is not perfect though. Maybe because it is after a book but there are several ends not tied in the script, and it feels not enough edited.