John Putch

Synopsis
Valerie (Susan Traylor) is still reeling from the death of her husband, though her family thinks she ought to be over it by now. Once a painter with an academic position, she’s started working in an LA grocery store, where she declines a promotion. After driving her husband’s old VW bus to Palm Springs, she meets Tim (Jay Underwood), who’s desperate to become more than a one-night stand. This darkly comic, exceptionally moving character study has drama, revelation, and expertly drawn secondary characters, but its power comes from Traylor’s fearless, idiosyncratic performance and a deeply expressionist production design that makes nearly every object as evocative as the desert landscape where Valerie tries to paint again. John Putch directed a screenplay by Robert Tilem; with songs by Kathleen Wilhoite.
Lisa Alspector, Chicago ReaderRead More »

Quote:
To explain to his students the atmosphere in the 1930’s Nazi-Germany, history teacher Burt Ross initiates a daring experiment. He declares himself leader of a new movement, called ‘The Wave’. Inspired, he proclaims ideas about Power, Discipline and Superiority. His students are strikingly willing to follow him. Soon the entire school is under the spell of ‘The Wave’. Anyone who refuses to be a part of the Movement, faces threats or worse. Ross himself gets carried away by his own experiment. Or has it turned into something more than an experiment? A climax is unavoidable, resulting in a hard lesson for both Ross and his students…Read More »