Omaha (2025)

Very arthouse and really drenched in clichés. Something is going on; the film makes no secret of this by giving some obvious hints but not saying for a long time what is actually happening. The camera close to the skin, silent glances from the father, and some beautiful nature shots. Truly typical. And because you know something is going on, the film fails to really surprise anywhere. I had already figured out the ultimate twist as one of the options. In that regard, the film didn't do much for me.

That is all true, but it also sounds a bit too negative. The cinematography is beautiful at times, and the American heartland and the feeling of a road trip come across beautifully—I was in those parts myself last year (a bit further southwest but with the same vibe), and when I saw the trailer, I wanted to see the film. Furthermore, the acting is excellent, especially the young Molly Belle Wright, who plays a child beautifully, but with all the emotions and nuances included.

Now and then, a few things stood out. For instance, driving towards a setting sun. A beautiful picture, but I think the route really heads east, so that shouldn't be right. And I don't think that was a sunrise. 3.0*.

Translated from Dutch · View original

The film employs a tried-and-tested but effective method: we know the family has been evicted from their home, but just like the children, we do not know where the man is driving them. We build a connection with the characters by following them throughout the entire drive, only to receive an answer at the end in a dramatic twist that is particularly moving because, by then, we have grown to love the children. After the conclusion, the film indicates that what we have seen was temporarily possible in Nebraska due to a new law, making the film primarily an illustration of why that law was wrong, or that evictions can have disastrous consequences that receive too little political attention. Despite this political character and unoriginal execution, the film otherwise does little wrong: the drive is relatable and entertaining, and the ending is moving—how could it be otherwise?

Translated from Dutch · View original

A dramatic film that is heartbreaking. Especially because you constantly wonder where it is going. The characters are portrayed intensely, and you feel the tension and the grief. A film that grips you, at least as a parent, and makes you realize that happiness is not meant for everyone.

Translated from Dutch · View original