"Imagine a collaboration between John Ford and Wallace Stevens and you might get a sense of what Kelly Reichardt pulls off here: a sincere recreation of the pioneer experience, brought to life through careful, often unexpected details." —Chicago Reader

"Meek's Cutoff is excruciating in the best possible sense, adopting a pace that's entirely appropriate to the endless expanse, but nonetheless suffused with suspicion and dread every step of the way." —AV Club

MEEK'S CUTOFF, is a stark and poetic drama from acclaimed director Kelly Reichardt (OLD JOY, FIRST COW). Set in the earliest days of the treacherous Oregon Trail, it follows a wagon train of three families who have hired an unreliable mountain man named Stephen Meek to guide them over the Cascade Mountains. Claiming to know a shortcut, Meek leads the group to an unmarked path across the high plain desert, only to become lost in the dry rock and sage.

Presented as part of Bijou's Film Forum series, a live discussion with UI American Studies Masters student Kate Avery and Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies Professor Corey Creekmur will follow this screening. Bijou events are free for University of Iowa students, message Bijou on social media or send an email to claim your free code!