Nominated for Best UK Film
Geena finally decides to leave her criminal husband, Clyde, and their isolated Texas hideout when a couple from New York suddenly arrives, in search of respite from the city. Ignoring the risks their presence may bring, Geena convinces Clyde to let them stay, a decision with dangerous consequences.
“I need things that the desert can’t give me”, says Geena, an aspiring artist living in a dingy trailer in the middle of the Texas desert. Her cold, reserved husband, Clyde, has been hiding out in the Karl Madison commune after committing a crime. Just as Geena is about to leave for good, a couple vacationing from New York arrives, Andy and Amaya.
Trouble looms as Geena becomes attracted to Andy, while Amaya grows resentful of Clyde and his brusque nature. The tension builds to an unforgettable climax as the lives of the two couples become more intertwined.
This taut thriller, with tightly controlled pacing and a slowburn buildup, is a well-oiled machine of storytelling and character development. The desert becomes a character in this film about the fragility of human interrelationships.
An impeccable and subtle performance by Erin Moriarty as Geena adds a layer of poignancy and gravitas to Catching Dust. Equally remarkable is Jai Courtney as Clyde.
In the end, Catching Dust is as much a character study as it is a thematic exploration on the limits of marriage, living in isolation, and expecting more out of life.
Manuel Delgadillo
