Once Upon a River

Saw this at the Woodstock Film Festival at its New York Premiere and glad I came out in the rain to see it. The Nature cinematography alone makes it worth the trip to the theater. You feel like you're at the river including the sounds of the outdoors. Music soundtrack is soft and minimal so the sounds of the river can come through. The story is a bit dark as this young girl looks for her mother to escape her cruel reality. Lots of warm moments as she connects with various characters along the way. It makes you care for these people and give hope for Margo's destiny. Her adopted friend Smoke ( John Ashton) steals the scenes and provides sprinkles of humor to lighten the mood.