Over her six-film career, including works like Old Joy, Meek's Cutoff and Certain Women, the independent filmmaker Kelly Reichardt has established a highly individual perspective on questions of gender, feminism, socioeconomics and sexual orientation, set within an aesthetic framework that is guided by the low-budget techniques of 'slow cinema', minimalism and neorealism. In this close reading of her films and production methods, E. Dawn Hall defines Reichardt's auteur characteristics, arguing that she offers a contemporary and sustainable model for independent filmmakers in America.

The first book-length study of Reichardt's career and worksOver her six-film career, including works like 'Old Joy, Meek's Cutoff' and 'Certain Women', the independent filmmaker Kelly Reichardt has established a highly individual perspective on questions of gender, feminism, socioeconomics and sexual orientation, set within an aesthetic framework that is guided by the low-budget techniques of 'slow cinema', minimalism and neorealism. In this close reading of her films and production methods, E. Dawn Hall defines Reichardt's auteur characteristics, arguing that she offers a contemporary and sustainable model for independent filmmakers in America.Key FeaturesSynthesizing the contemporary feminist debate surrounding auteur theory, this book explores Reichardt's cinematic characteristics as an auteurElucidates the environmental and ecofeminist concerns in Reichardt's filmsDiscusses Reichardt's three experimental short films in detailIncludes an original interview with Reichardt