Films / Now, Forager

USA | Narrative Feature | 2012 | 93 min | Website

Director: Jason Cortland & Julia Halperin
Film source: The filmmakers
Subtitle: A Film Of Love And Funghi

“Likely the first narrative feature to spring from the slow-food movement…” -Village Voice, Sept 5, 2012

Regina (Tiffany Esteb) and Lucien (Cortlund) spend their days foraging the woods outside of New York City for mushrooms. The camera follows the couple as they wordlessly traverse the endless woods to a soundtrack of squeaking cicadas and branches snapping under foot. But Regina has grown tired of their rudderless bohemian lifestyle. She thinks the couple should look for more stable work. However, what she calls growing up, Lucien describes as selling out.

The film uses exquisite portraits of mushrooms backed by Lucien’s monotone descriptions of the fungi’s genus and species. The effect is both educational and slightly disturbing, adding to the tension Lucien carries with him at all times.

-Mike Birbiglia, Writer/Director of Sleepwalk With Me, has written of the film: “Now, Forager is a creative, experimental, and heartfelt film that I enjoyed every minute of. There’s a texture to the film that is very personal and unique and I couldn’t help but remarking when I left the theater, ‘No studio would EVER make this film, but they really ought to’ It’s really what independent filmmaking is all about—telling stories people aren’t telling in ways that no one would pay for them to be told. In this case, over the course of an actual year to reflect the seasons—a character unto themselves—in their truest form. Way to go, Now, Forager. I’ll be first in line for the next one.” Directors Jason
Cortlund & Julia Halperin were named by The Independent magazine to their “10 to Watch” list in 2012.