It's not often that I find myself reviewing a low-budget indie that is also getting set for a truly indie run in one of my hometown Indy's indie theaters (Okay, I'll admit I did all that indie just for fun.), but that's exactly what happens with Jesse Stewart's Colorado shot Piggy Duster, a film that is nowhere near as weird as the name itself might imply. 

In fact, this feature debut from Stewart is decidedly quiet. Set almost completely within Colorado's Rocky Mountains, Piggy Duster is actually an intimate family drama centered almost entirely around Vivian (Julia Ma) and her stepfather, Keith (Brian Landis Folkins). 

As it would be nearly impossible to make the Rocky Mountains anything but gorgeous, it's not surprising that Piggy Duster is a beautiful film, though D.P. Laffrey Witbrod does some inspired work here with lensing that both captures the beauty of the setting and the distance and tension between a father and daughter who were seemingly close at one point but have clearly grown apart. This trip is an annual camping trip, though Vivian is arriving at her upper teens and it's entirely likely this will be the last such trip. There's a distance between the two, though it feels early on as if neither one wants it - they've simply resigned themselves to it. Keith, at least, doesn't seem to want to give up without at least putting up a bit of a fight for this relationship. 

The relationship between Keith and Vivian is portrayed realistically. Stewart writes a story without demonizing anyone. These are simply two people who've grown apart, both because of who they are and because of reasons slowly revealed. We see Keith, especially early on, trying to draw Vivian out using mostly the benchmarks of relationship. It feels both sincere yet manufactured, sort of routine and yet there's an earnestness that lets it play somewhat beautifully. This could have easily put Vivian into a sort of villainish role but it never does. Vivian's curt responses are guarded yet never harsh, distant yet never overplayed. 

Stewart rolls out his narrative gently. It's refreshing to have this narrative feel honest and truthful. Stewart avoids histrionics and unnecessary drama. Instead, Stewart's dialogue capitalizes on the natural nuances of what it means to be in a long-term relationship with someone with its unspoken truths, silences, ever-present tensions and more. There are quiet scenes here that are quite touching, one mid-storm dialogue exchange speaking to the familial connection that exists no matter how tense everything else becomes. 

I will admit that early on I found myself wondering about the chemistry between Julia Ma and Brian Landis Folkins, though it didn't take me long to completely surrender myself to it. They feel natural together, familiar in a way that feels durable if strained. Vivian could have so easily been one-note, yet Stewart's natural dialogue and Ma's tremendous performance combine to make her the conflicted yet engaging young woman that she is growing to be. Folkins, as well, exudes a warmth that easily makes him the more likable of the two. And yet, he's a lot more complex than we originally think and I like how Stewart rolls that out. 

The original score by Matt Stewart-Evans proves to be an emotionally resonant companion to Stewart's storytelling, and I also simply have to acknowledge that Stewart's work is work of quiet confidence and disciplined tone-setting. 

It's no secret that a bear encounter becomes part of the story, though in a film so understated throughout even this scene seems to play toward the film's quieter themes of connection, identity, and family of blood and family of choice. 

Piggy Duster won't likely be a film for everyone, but I enjoyed it quite a lot and appreciated both its production team and small but mighty actirng ensemble. The film is screening in my own hometown of Indianapolis at the Kan-Kan Cinema on August 29-30th, a terrific opportunity to check out a small indie project doing a limited arthouse run along with its AppleTV engagement. 

So, Indy folks should get out and support this filmmaker and take another opportunity to check out Kan-Kan, one of Indy's true gems. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic