Wildrose (film)
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- John Hanson
- Eugene Corr
- John Hanson
- Sandra Schulberg
| Wildrose | |
|---|---|
 Eichhorn as June Lorich | |
| Directed by | John Hanson |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by |
|
| Produced by | Sandra Schulberg |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Peter Stein |
| Edited by | Arthur Coburn |
| Music by |
|
Production company | New Front Films |
| Distributed by | Troma |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | < $1 million |
Wildrose is a 1984 American independent drama film directed by John Hanson, produced by New Front Films, and distributed by Troma.[1] It stars Lisa Eichhorn and Tom Bower supported by a cast of largely nonprofessional actors, and is predominantly set and filmed in Minnesota's Iron Range.
Recently divorced from her abusive alcoholic husband (Stephen Yoakam), June's (Lisa Eichhorn) job as a miner in Minnesota's Mesabi Range becomes more challenging because of harassment from her male colleagues and a lack of support from her mother. She considers her independence, her family, and her future with fellow miner Rick (Tom Bower) as she develops a romantic relationship with him.[1][2][3]
Cast
- Lisa Eichhorn as June Lorich
- Tom Bower as Rick Ogaard
- Jim Cada as Pavich
- Cinda Jackson as Karen
- Dan Nemanick as Ricotti
- Lydia Olson as Katri Sippola
- Bill Schoppert as Timo Maki
- James Stowell as Doobie
- Stephen Yoakam as Billy
- Vienna Maki as Vienna Lorich
- Frankie Smoltz as Frank Lorich
- Clinton Maxwell as Chris Ogaard
- Ernest Tomatz as Nolan
- Marie Nelson as Marie Ogaard
- Father Frank Perkovich as himself[4]
Production
The film was shot on location in Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range, including town scenes in Eveleth. Other scenes were filmed in Bayfield, Wisconsin.[4]
It was made for under $1 million (equivalent to $3.1 million in 2025).[5]
Release and reception
The film was selected for the Museum of Modern Art's New Films/New Directors series,[4][6] and was a finalist for the Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival.[6] Tom Bower was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.[7] It screened out of competition at the Berlin Film Festival[8] and at the Boston Film Festival.[9]
Ms. magazine called it "[as] visually rich as it is emotionally resonant."[10] The Los Angeles Times review wrote that the "small core of professional actors creates collides with the film's numerous self-conscious non-professionals, who inadvertently remind us that Eichhorn, Bower and others are, after all, 'acting' ... But the pluses outweigh the minuses."[1] Variety called Eichhorn's performance "moving, natural ... in a decidedly unglamorous role" and praised the camerawork as "extraordinary, vivid."[8]