Woman Walks Ahead
Woman Walks Ahead | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Susanna White |
Written by | Steven Knight |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Mike Eley |
Edited by | Lucia Zucchetti |
Music by | George Fenton |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 101 minutes |
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Budget | $5 million[1] |
Box office | $76,713[2][3] |
Woman Walks Ahead is a 2017 American biographical drama film directed by Susanna White and written by Steven Knight. The film is the story of Catherine Weldon (Jessica Chastain), a portrait painter who travels from New York to Dakota to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull (Michael Greyeyes) in 1890. Chaske Spencer and Sam Rockwell also star.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival September 10, 2017. It was released through DirecTV Cinema on May 31, 2018, before being released in a limited release on June 29, 2018, by A24.
Plot
Catherine Weldon, a portrait painter from 1890s Brooklyn, travels to Dakota to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull and becomes embroiled in the Lakota peoples' struggle over the rights to their land.[4]
Cast
- Jessica Chastain as Catherine Weldon, Sitting Bull’s confidante and adviser
- Michael Greyeyes as Sitting Bull
- Sam Rockwell as Colonel Silas Grove
- Ciarán Hinds as James McLaughlin, a commanding officer
- Michael Nouri as Karl Valentine
- Chaske Spencer as Chaska, a local lawman
- Bill Camp as General Cook
- Rulan Tangen as Susan McLaughlin
- Louise Krause as Loretta
- Lyle Sandoval as Tracker
Production
On February 3, 2016, it was reported that Jessica Chastain was in talks to play Sitting Bull's confidante in Woman Walks Ahead, directed by Susanna White.[5] On September 14, 2016, Michael Greyeyes, Sam Rockwell, Ciarán Hinds, Chaske Spencer, and Bill Camp joined the cast, with principal photography having begun in New Mexico.[6]
Release
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Woman_Walks_Ahead_panel_%2851570%29.jpg/220px-Woman_Walks_Ahead_panel_%2851570%29.jpg)
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2017.[7][8] Shortly after, A24 and DirecTV Cinema acquired distribution rights to the film.[9] Its U.S. premiere was at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25, 2018.[10][11]
It was released through DirecTV Cinema on May 31, 2018, before being released in a limited release on June 29, 2018.[12][13]
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 53% based on 34 reviews, and an average rating of 6/10.[14] On Metacritic, which assigns a rating to reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[15]
Despite mixed reviews, Michael Greyeyes received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Sitting Bull.[16][17][18][19] The New York Times critic Jeannette Catsoulis called his performance "a miracle of intelligence and dignity".[16] RogerEbert.com contributor Susan Wloszczyna raved about his performance, calling it "the most subtle, soulful, and believable".[17] Los Angeles Times and Village Voice described his presence as captivating as “wry wit and quiet gravity” while the latter described his performance as "stirring".[18]
References
- ^ Peele, Anna (June 6, 2018). "How Jessica Chastain Emerged as a Leader for Gender Equality: "Your Silence Is Your Discrimination"". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- ^ "Woman Walks Ahead (2018)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "Woman Walks Ahead". The Numbers. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Pollack, Eileen (2002). Woman Walking Ahead: In Search of Catherine Weldon and Sitting Bull. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 9781515965626.
- ^ Jaafar, Ali (February 3, 2016). "Jessica Chastain To Star In 'Woman Walks Ahead' With Susanna White Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (September 14, 2016). "Sam Rockwell, Michael Greyeyes & More Join Jessica Chastain In 'Woman Walks Ahead'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
- ^ "Woman Walks Ahead". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 25, 2017). "Toronto Film Festival 2017 Unveils Strong Slate". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 20, 2017). "Jessica Chastain Sitting Bull Painter Pic 'Woman Walks Ahead' Snapped Up By A24 & DirecTV". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ Raup, Jordan (March 7, 2018). "Tribeca 2018 Lineup Includes 'Disobedience,' 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post,' 'The Seagull,' and More". The Film Stage. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ "Woman Walks Ahead". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Coming Soon". A24. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ Billington, Alex (April 24, 2018). "Trailer for Susanna White's 'Woman Walks Ahead' with Jessica Chastain". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Woman Walks Ahead (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- ^ "Woman Walks Ahead Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ a b Catsoulis, Jeannette (June 28, 2018). "Review: A 'Woman Walks Ahead,' and Sitting Bull Stands Up". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- ^ a b Wloszczyna, Susan (June 29, 2018). "Woman Walks Ahead". RogerEbert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- ^ a b Chang, Justin (June 28, 2018). "Jessica Chastain plays the artist who painted Sitting Bull in the inert history lesson 'Woman Walks Ahead'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- ^ Scherstuhl, Alan (June 27, 2018). ""Woman Walks Ahead" Finds Jessica Chastain and Sitting Bull Lost on the Plains". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 5, 2018.