In one sentence: After a devastating wildfire destroys his ranch, a struggling cowboy must rebuild both his life and his relationship with his daughter.
Sometimes a film does not need grand set pieces or dramatic twists to make an impact. Sometimes it simply needs to make the audience feel something. Quietly released drama Rebuilding, starring Josh O’Connor, does exactly this.
The film follows Dusty (O’Connor), a cowboy whose family ranch in Colorado has been destroyed by wildfire. With his home gone and his livelihood lost, he finds himself living in a FEMA camp alongside others who have suffered similar devastation. As he attempts to navigate an uncertain future, he begins rebuilding his relationship with his daughter Callie-Rose (Lilly LaTorre), who lives with her mother (Meghann Fahy), her mother’s new partner (Sam Engbring) and her grandmother, Bess (Amy Madigan).
What stands out about this film is its setting. Colorado is presented as both breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly harsh. The scorched landscape left behind by the wildfire serves as a constant reminder of what has been lost. Burnt trees stand uncertainly against vast skies, while the rugged terrain highlights just how vulnerable people are to forces beyond their control. The cinematography is stunning, filled with sweeping shots of mountains, plains and damaged wilderness. In a film that moves at a gentle pace, the scenery becomes an important character in its own right.
There is no escaping the fact that Rebuilding is a slow burn. Some viewers may find its pace challenging and, perhaps on another day, I might have felt similarly. Instead, I found myself completely drawn into the story. The combination of the performances, the setting and the film’s quiet sincerity kept me engaged throughout.
This role feels worlds apart from Josh O’Connor’s recent blockbuster outing in Disclosure Day and serves as another reminder of his versatility as an actor. Here, he plays a man who has lost not only his home but also his sense of purpose. Dusty is adrift, carrying the weight of family history while struggling to reconnect with a daughter from whom he has become somewhat estranged. O’Connor captures this uncertainty beautifully, delivering a performance that is understated but deeply affecting. Lilly LaTorre is equally impressive as Callie-Rose. She looks like their perfect mix of her parents and convincingly portrays the complicated emotions of a young girl who clearly loves her father but is unsure where she fits into his life. There is a real warmth to her performance and she shares believable chemistry with O’Connor. Meghann Fahy is excellent in a restrained role, while Amy Madigan once again demonstrates her versatility. Following her recent Oscar-winning turn in Weapons, this is a very different performance, one built on kindness, patience and quiet strength.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of community. Nobody in this story has very much, yet that does not make them any less generous. The FEMA camp is filled with people who have lost almost everything, but they continue to cook for one another, offer support and share what little they have. It is a moving reminder of how resilient and compassionate people can be during difficult times. The film benefits from its naturalistic approach, with grounded performances, understated styling and realistic settings helping it feel almost documentary-like at times.
As its title suggests, Rebuilding is about much more than repairing physical damage. It explores how people recover from tragedy and how loss can become an opportunity to reassess what truly matters. The film never pretends that recovery is easy, nor does it offer fairytale solutions. Instead, it presents a hopeful but realistic view of resilience. A children’s book called The Magic Boots, which Callie-Rose reads with her father, becomes a recurring motif throughout the story. Its message reinforces one of the film’s central ideas that people are ultimately responsible for creating change in their own lives.
Overall, Rebuilding is a thoughtful and quietly moving drama about loss, resilience and second chances. It may not be for everyone and those looking for a faster-paced story may find their patience tested. However, for viewers willing to settle into its rhythm, it offers a tender and rewarding exploration of what it means to start again when everything you once knew has been taken away.
★★★½ (3.5/5)
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