WKU News

Dr. Dawn Hall’s book ReFocus: The Films of Kelly Reichardt was featured as runner-up in CriterionCast Book Club's top books of the summer. The following is an excerpt from Joshua Brunsting’s article:

“Coming in in the runner-up slot is the latest in a rather long line of books from Edinburgh University Press, all under the ReFocus banner. A line of books that attempts to go head first into the filmography of any given film director, the line has seen tomes about auteurs like Delmer Daves and Budd Boetticher, and this may be the most exciting on yet. With Kelly Reichardt’s upcoming film First Cow in some stage of post-production, she’s about to be back on the tips of everyone’s tongues, and this is a must read for anyone wanting to go deeper into one of modern American cinema’s most important careers. A full career retrospective, the book begins, following an introduction of sorts positing Reichardt as one of the hallowed American auteurs, highlighting her brilliant debut film River Of Grass, only to conclude with a compelling and insightful interview with the filmmaker herself. More critical dissertation than a real biography, the film never turns away from personal notes about Reichardt’s life, instead positioning each film as part of a career trajectory that sees a director find her voice, break through with that voice and subsequently expand and solidify her position in the world of film. Structured wonderfully and in a way that makes the chronological flow feel less rigid and more natural, The Films Of Kelly Reichardt is a thrilling and deeply important (and incredibly easy to read and fly right on through) meditation on a filmmaker whose import will be felt for years and generations to come.”

To read about the other books on the CriterionCast Book Club’s list, check out the article on their website.