Kelly Reichardt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelly Reichardt
Reichardt in 2020
Born	(1964-03-03) March 3, 1964 (age 61) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Education	School of the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter
Years active	1994–present

Kelly Reichardt, born on March 3, 1964, is an American film director and writer. She is known for her unique films that often show the lives of everyday people. Many of her movies are set in small towns and rural areas. Her films are sometimes called "minimalist" or "slow cinema." This means they focus on small details and quiet moments.

Reichardt's first major film was River of Grass (1994). After that, she directed several movies filmed in Oregon. These include the dramas Old Joy (2006) and Wendy and Lucy (2008). She also made the Western film Meek's Cutoff (2010) and the thriller Night Moves (2013). In 2016, she wrote and directed Certain Women, which was set in Montana. More recently, Reichardt has returned to making films in Oregon. These include First Cow (2019) and Showing Up (2022). Her ninth film, The Mastermind, was shown at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Early Life and Education

Kelly Reichardt was born in 1964 and grew up in Miami, Florida. She became very interested in photography when she was young. Her parents were police officers who separated when she was a child. She went to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and earned a special degree called an MFA. Since 2006, Reichardt has also been an artist-in-residence at Bard College. This means she teaches and works on her art there.

Film Career Highlights

First Films and Short Movies

Reichardt's first feature film, River of Grass, came out in 1994. It was nominated for several awards, including at the Sundance Film Festival. Critics liked it, and some even called it one of the best films of 1995. After this, it was hard for Reichardt to make another full-length movie for about ten years. She said it was difficult to get funding, partly because she was a woman. During this time, she made shorter films instead.

In 1999, she made a short film called Ode. She then made two more short films: Then a Year in 2001 and Travis in 2004. In these films, critics noticed that she quietly showed her feelings about the Iraq War.

Oregon Stories and Acclaim

Later, Reichardt met writer Jon Raymond and producer Neil Kopp. Raymond's stories about the Pacific Northwest inspired Reichardt to set many of her films there. In 2006, she directed Old Joy, based on one of Raymond's short stories. The film is about two friends who go on a camping trip near Portland, Oregon. Old Joy won awards at several film festivals. It was also the first American film to win the Tiger Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

For her next film, Wendy and Lucy (2008), Reichardt and Raymond worked together again. This movie tells the story of a woman searching for her lost dog. It shows feelings of loneliness and hope. The film was released in December 2008. The main actress, Michelle Williams, received a lot of praise for her role.

Reichardt then directed Meek's Cutoff, a Western movie. Michelle Williams also starred in this film. It was shown at the 67th Venice International Film Festival in 2010. Reichardt edits her own films. In 2013, her film Night Moves was shown at the 70th Venice International Film Festival. This film was a more intense thriller about a secret plan to blow up a dam. It was a bit different from her usual slower, more thoughtful movies.

Reichardt's film Certain Women (2016) was filmed in Montana. It is based on short stories by Maile Meloy. The movie stars Michelle Williams, Laura Dern, Lily Gladstone, and Kristen Stewart. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016. Reichardt won the top award at the 2016 London Film Festival for this film.

Recent Works

In 2019, First Cow premiered at the 2019 Telluride Film Festival. It was also shown at the 2019 New York Film Festival. This film marked Reichardt's return to making movies set in Oregon. It was released in theaters in March 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it soon became available to watch at home.

Reichardt's most recent film, Showing Up, is set in Portland. Michelle Williams plays a sculptor in the lead role. The film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. It was the first time one of Reichardt's films was chosen to compete for the top award, the Palme d'Or. The movie was released in the United States on April 7, 2023.

Reichardt's films have generally received very good reviews from critics. While her movies are not usually big box-office hits, they are highly respected for their artistic quality. Her film The Mastermind premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2025. It was also nominated for the Palme d'Or.

Film Style and Themes

Kelly Reichardt often works with actress Michelle Williams. Reichardt says she likes Williams's confidence and how she always asks questions.

Quiet and Realistic Films

Reichardt's films are often described as "minimalist" and "realist." This means they focus on small, everyday moments and feel very true to life. One film critic called Wendy and Lucy part of a new American independent cinema style. Reichardt herself sees her films as "just glimpses of people passing through." She believes movies should let the audience think for themselves. Her films use long takes and not much dialogue. This style is sometimes called "slow cinema." It gives the audience time to think and feel.

Characters on the Edge

Reichardt's movies often focus on characters who are not usually seen in mainstream films. These are people who might be struggling or looking for a better life. She is interested in characters "who don't have a net." This means if something small went wrong, their whole world could fall apart. Her films explore parts of the American experience that big Hollywood movies rarely show. Critics say her films are great at showing the quiet lives of working-class people. These characters often want more but are stuck in their everyday routines.

Hidden Meanings and Politics

Reichardt's films often have references to modern times and political events. For example, she said that Meek's Cutoff felt very relevant to the Iraq War. She mentioned that the character Meek was meant to remind people of George W. Bush. Wendy and Lucy also shows the financial difficulties that many Americans faced because of the war. Her 2013 film Night Moves has more clear political messages. It is about three environmental activists. The film is set in Oregon, a state known for environmental protests.

Open Endings

Critics have noticed that Reichardt's films often have endings that are not completely clear. They might leave the audience wondering what happens next. For example, in Old Joy, a character is left wandering city streets. In Wendy and Lucy, the main character is still looking for her dog. Reichardt says she is "suspicious of absolutes." She enjoys films that let the audience figure things out for themselves. She feels it would be strange to have a clear "The End" in her short films.

Feminist Ideas in Film

Reichardt's films contain ideas that relate to feminism. This is shown in her style and the stories she tells. She avoids mainstream filmmaking methods. She uses small budgets and films on location, often in Oregon. She also focuses on female lead characters in most of her films. However, she does not like to be called a "feminist filmmaker." Her films challenge how bodies are shown and make audiences think differently. For example, River of Grass is divided into numbered sections. Certain Women is also told in different parts.

Filmography

Film

Short film

Awards and Recognition

See also

In Spanish: Kelly Reichardt para niños

• Social realism (a style of art that shows real life)
• Minimalist film (movies that use very simple elements)