“Inhospitable Environment,” a review of “We the Coyotes” by Nathan H. Box
Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME
Directors: Marco La Via, Hanna Ladoul, Writers: Marco La Via, Hanna Ladoul, Starring: Morgan Saylor, McCaul Lombardi, Betsy Brandt
Plot: “Amanda and Jake are in love and want to start a new life in Los Angeles. Will they make the right decisions? The first 24 hours of their new life take them all around the city, bringing them more surprises and frustrations than expected.” -IMDB
Review: For my twelfth film of the 2018 Los Angeles Film Festival, I set my sights on a film that would allow me to connect with some kindred spirits. By doing so, I was treated to a familiar welcome to Los Angeles; a city I now call home (at least for a little while).
Amanda and Jake are young and in love. With everything they own packed away inside a single car, they find themselves, like so many people before, reaching for the West. With eyes only for Los Angeles, they have nothing more than a meager plan to make it in a city that can be unforgiving. If any part of their plan fails, then the very adventure and path they find themselves on can tear at the seams. Finding themselves in someone else’s home is the first hurdle and frustration. From the beginning, the plan seems destined to fail.
Yet, not all hope is lost. Amanda has a lead on a potential job in the music business. If she lands this job, then perhaps there can be some course correction. Amanda is about to face a harsh reality of the modern world; the unpaid internship in lieu of an actual job. Our young couple is learning a new city is tough and surviving in a place like LA is a series of trial and error. Here, the writer and director do a wonderful job of showcasing their frustration, as well as creating doubt in our minds about whether this young relationship can survive such hardship.
Of course, the hardships don’t stop there. Life, can at times, be a bully and pile pain on top of pain. Quickly, LA looks like an inhospitable environment, but then hope is revealed. Amanda and Jake learn that all they need is each other and to be in the moment. From there, life has a magical way of working itself out for those who remain persistent. These lessons are why I recommend this film. “We the Coyotes” should be mandatory viewing for anyone dreaming of moving across the country.
Be good to each other,
Nathan
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