In Deborah Richards’ debut feature Move Me No Mountain, real estate agent Jenna Anderson is crippled by guilt from the violent and sudden death of her daughter. With seemingly nothing left to lose, she makes the decision to walk away from everything she has and knows to live rough on the streets of Sin City, Las Vegas.
Whilst it is a fiction film, it is inspired by the real life plight of the homeless in Las Vegas. The director worked with Vegas Rescue Mission and Shine A Light Foundation to shape a realistic and sensitive portrayal of life on the streets.
Richards showcases a Las Vegas rarely seen on the big screen. It portrays a world away from the wealth and over-the-top opulence of the casinos. One that in reality is only separated by a matter of blocks.
The film’s narrative draws parallels with Into The Wild. Both featured protagonists who leave everything behind. Whereas Christopher McCandleless trekked into the Alaskan wilderness, Anderson finds wilderness closer to home. She is a woman on a quest to hit rock bottom, believing she is unworthy of love or anything good in her life. However a glimmer of hope emerges in the form of a young girl who is also living rough with an unstable woman.
Delivering a haunting portrayal of Jenna, Cat Lellie convinces as a woman with nothing left to lose. Of the characters she meets along the way, the one that makes a lasting impression is fellow tunnel dweller-turned-street pastor Nick (Nicholas Roylance).
It could have been easy to sensationalise the situation or allow it to fall into melodrama. Thankfully Richards keeps that under a tight reign to hit the right emotional notes. Move Me No Mountain shines a light on the very real plight of many. However it also shows that there can be light at the end of that tunnel they find themselves in.
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Director: Deborah Richards
Stars: Cat Lellie, Nicholas Roylance, Amanda Forstom, Layla Campbell
Runtime: 84 minutes
Country: USA
