Meek's Cutoff

Meek’s Cutoff

This film has been playing for weeks now at various theatres. I have been laid up with my back and needed to get moving. A walk to the theatre seemed to be in order. This was the only appealing film that I had not seen. It would never have been my first choice.
Oregon in 1845 was not an easy time for pioneers forging their way across the badlands. A group of three covered wagons is slowly moving their way across the parched dry lands. There is always fear of Indian attacks. The women walk and the hardships are excessive.
I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for the unexpected to happen.
I was so thirsty looking at them marching through the desert like land. I was scratching as I observed them wearing the same long clothes every single day. The heat was obviously intensive. The women were completely covered and wore hats that looked more like horse blinkers.
I could never tell what exactly they ate but it couldn’t have been gourmet. Each day they trekked further on in search of water. When they found water they were at least able to wash and clean their clothes. In one scene they had to cross a rather deep river. The women held some of their bags overhead as they waded across the water. The men pulled the wagons led by heaven oxen.
Always in the background was the fear of their enemy.
One Indian is captured by the men. They can’t decide if it is better to kill him or take him along. The complete lack of communication made the situation threatening for all.
Don’t ask me how it all ends because we are not told. Perhaps it is better that way. We are given a glimpse of that horrific struggle faced by courageous pioneers. It was fascinating to observe the various characters. Meek was the long haired leader of the expedition. By the end of the film he has relinquished the role as leader. Several of the women are near to nervous breakdowns with the fear of it all. In other scenes they sit and knit patiently while the men restore a broken axle of one of the wagons.
The film is a glimpse into our past history. The cinematography certainly was exquisite. It was like viewing an old painting to see the wagons gliding along the horizon. The actors were believable in their roles. It was 101 minutes of parched slow movement through dangerous territory. If you are up for it go soon because it probably will not play for much longer.