An Indie Maine Stay; Bluebird Migrates Towards Factory 25

In a deal that has been closed for some time now, but Factory 25 are cutting, skidding and loading Lance Edmands’ directorial debut onto their 2015 slate with the seasonally thematic release date of February 27th (NYC). It’ll have been almost two years since Bluebird received its world premiere at Tribeca ’13, but this rural community drama packs a punch with one of the better ensemble dramas casts in John Slattery, Amy Morton, Louisa Krause, Emily Meade, Margo Martingale and Adam Driver.

Gist: This explores the interconnectedness of a small town in the northern reaches of Maine. When Lesley, the local school bus driver (Morton), becomes distracted during her end-of-day inspection, she fails to notice a sleeping boy in the back of the bus. What happens next shatters the tranquility of her small logging town, proving that even the slightest actions have enormous consequences. Stricken by an overwhelming sense of guilt, Lesley’s fragility is further tested by her husband (Slattery)—a local logger preoccupied by the imminent closing of the town paper mill—and the boy’s mother (Krause), a disaffected young woman looking to take advantage of a delicate situation.

Worth Noting: Winner of the Best Actress (shared by its female ensemble) and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at Karlovy Vary, not only is the acting strong but cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes offers a masterclass in working in frigid temps.

Do We Care?: Among the top three title offerings at the Tribeca Film Festival, we’re surprised that it has taken this long to find a distributor home.