Return (2011 film)
| Return | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Liza Johnson |
| Produced by |
Noah Harlan Ben Howe |
| Written by | Liza Johnson |
| Starring |
Linda Cardellini Michael Shannon John Slattery |
| Music by | T. Griffin Joe Rudge |
| Cinematography | Anne Etheridge |
| Edited by | Paul Zucker |
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Production
company |
2.1 Films
True Enough Productions Fork Films |
| Distributed by | Rezo |
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Release date
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Running time
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98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Return is a 2011 independent film about an American reservist, wife and mother returning home from her tour of duty in the Middle East. The film was written and directed by Liza Johnson, and stars Linda Cardellini, Michael Shannon and John Slattery. It is Johnson's first feature-length film, and received good reviews at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight.
Kelli, returning from her military tour of duty in the Middle East, has high hopes for resuming her old life in her midwestern hometown. Her hopes are gradually dashed as her relationships with her family and friends suffer; they have moved on, and she cannot adjust. She is unable to provide the attention her children need, she quits her dull factory job, she discovers her husband Mike's infidelity, drinks with her friends, then is stopped by the police while driving under the influence. During her court-ordered therapy session, she meets Bud, a charming war veteran. She undergoes a gradual breakdown, but persists in her efforts to reestablish her life.
Johnson explained that her impetus to start the project came from "talking to my male friend about his experiences. It was through talking with him about his divorce and stuff, that was sort of my first point of interest. He introduced me to a lot of his colleagues. Through him and through other means, I did meet a lot of women soldiers. We did a lot of research with women who have been deployed. Linda [Cardellini] did her own research in L.A. at the VA hospital, through other contacts and friends."
Johnson was selected to attend the 2008 Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, where some scenes for Return were workshopped. The film project was also selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam CineMart in 2008, which connects filmmakers with co-production and film marketers. Following the Sundance Lab program, she was awarded the Adrienne Shelly Women Filmmakers Grant for production of Return, and in 2010 received a grant from film philanthropic group Cinereach.
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