Minimalist director Kelly Reichardt weaves an affecting portrait of four unconnected women living in the American Northwest. Starring Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Lily Gladstone, Certain Women is broken up into sections and based on a collection of short stories by Maile Meloy. It centers chiefly on the characters played by Dern, Williams and Stewart, each attempting, in their own way, to build their own ordinary lives.
Deeply empathetic and engrossing, Certain Women is a slow-burn that mesmerizes with its careful pacing and attention to detail. At the same time, its characters are rich yet understated, portrayed with care by all four actresses. It is difficult to watch the film and not see a little bit of oneself in each character, as scenarios depicted are specific yet universal. Certain Women warmly showcases the bittersweet, beautiful melancholy of life.
