Night Moves

12^th October 2013

Filippo L'Astorina

Filippo L'Astorina

12 October 2013

Tuesday 15^th October, 9pm – Odeon Leicester Square
Wednesday 16^th October, 3pm – Vue West End, Screen 5
Thuesday 17^th October, 3pm – BFI Soutbank, NFT1

Night Moves is an eco-thriller telling the story of three young radical environmentalists coming together to execute the most intense protest of their lives: the explosion of a hydroelectric dam. In the northwestern state of Oregon, the continuous creation of artificial lakes and reservoirs is causing deforestation and in the group’s eyes, the dam represents the wastefulness of modern society. 

The picture doesn’t explore the background and reasons of each of the three lead characters; it focuses on their troubled state of mind during the preparation, execution and aftermath of the attack. Their initial certainties slowly crumble when something goes wrong and the trust binding them begins to break down.

Jesse Eisenberg (Josh), Dakota Fanning (Dena) and Peter Sarsgaard (Harmon) are perfectly cast as three young eco-terrorists who are driven to act without a full understanding of the consequences of what they are doing. The introversion and sense of rebellion that keep their dream alive turn out to be without solid grounds.

The feature is shot in digital to make the most of dark open-air locations, with director Kelly Reichardt’s personal approach subtlely bringing you inside the story so that you feel like part of the gang. The idea for a script came to life while visiting some friends of frequent writing partner Jon Raymond, who live in an organic farm in Oregon. Inspired by their vision of life and Charles Burchfield’s paintings, the duo started to read about stories of groups like Weather Underground and Black Panthers who, despite having a legitimate aim, took their protest too far.

Night Moves is another good movie from indie cult icon Reichardt, whose talent in representing people’s insecurities and indecisiveness is unique.

Filippo L’Astorina, the Editor

Follow our daily reports from the London Film Festival here.

For further information about the 57^th London Film Festival visit here.

Read our interview with lead actor Jesse Eisenberg here. Read our interview with Dakota Fanning here.