Nick (Richard Blackmon) has a marketing job, a steady girlfriend, and crippling student debt. Struggling with the weight of expectations, he opts to downsize: dispensing with the luxuries he doesn’t need, cutting costs, swapping four wheels for two. It’s a path which leads to savings he hasn’t anticipated, physical and spiritual learnings, but which has others questioning his mental state…
Mark Hoffman’s debut feature film, inspired by Evan Schneider’s novel, is a lean, low budget gem, shot in Portland, Oregon, in black and white, with a fine score by Mark Orton (The Holdovers). Fittingly, for a tale about the virtues of simplicity, there is nothing superfluous or decadent here. But unpack it, the film reveals precious insights into the nature of “value” and “worth”, how materialism affects our sense of self, and, perhaps, the dangers attendant on any self-improvement project.
Aug 7 & 8: Q&A with director Mark Hoffman
Relevant to almost everyone.
Moviemaker magazine
Absolutely gorgeous cinematography and multifaceted story.
Matt Hurt, The Obsessive Viewer
Mark Hoffman
Richard Blackmon
USA
2025
English
Audience Awards at the Heartland, Cleveland and Lighthouse Film Festivals
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Credits
Executive Producer
Mark Alan Hoffman
Producer
Alyssa Roehrenbeck, Mike Lay, Michelle Damis, Tyson Wisbrock
Screenwriter
Mark Alan Hoffman
Cinematography
Kevin Fletcher
Editor
Mark Alan Hoffman
Original Music
Mark Orton, John Hancock
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