Recent news stories of industrial mining accidents across the world linger in the background of this stark, character based drama from debut feature director Sara Colangelo. Expanded from her short film of the same name and assisted via the Sundance Institute’s Writers Lab, the story focuses on a rural Appalachian community devastated by a disaster at the local coal mine which has claimed ten lives. Already people are looking for someone to blame from a legal angle and pressure steadily mounts on the sole survivor of the disaster; Amos Jenkins (Boyd Holbrook) whose testimony could seal some hefty compensation. Meanwhile, one of the kids (Jacob Loflland) of the dead miners struggles with his own grief and sets off a chain of consequences that envelope Bill and Diana Doyle (Josh Lucas and Elizabeth Banks). The former is one of the managers of the coal mine and is a figure of rising blame and anger amongst the locals…
Steeped in an authentic style and filmed entirely on location with no sets, Little Accidents doesn’t have to work hard to convince in its portrayal of an America that’s seldom seen along with those inhabiting it. It’s a place which would probably spring up on Google if you typed ‘small town America’; everyone knows each other and each others business whatever their background and class. The town is presented as its own internal universe. It’s a simmering cauldron of mistrust and quiet rage that boils over in the wake of tragedy and boy does it ever boil over. The films earthy and natural tone perfectly encapsulate this, as well as the authentic environment that includes what appear to be genuine residents appearing as themselves. It’s also bolstered by some really superb performances, most notably from Boyd Holbrook as the haunted Amos. Hindered via a limp and with a thousand yard piercing stare, Amos could prove too sheltered and quiet to engage with the audience, but Holbrook makes it connect finding the perfect manners for a deeply wounded yet profoundly decent everyman.
Where the film does seem a little less sure footed is in later developments. Characters meet and interact in ways that at first seems natural, but as events unfold grow increasingly cliched or even unbelieveable. A subplot which see’s Amos and Diana embark on an affair seems almost redundant; a cheap device to bring their characters and desires closer together and intertwine. Josh Lucas does the best he can (actually the best he’s ever been) as the put upon yet unshakable husband, but even his character’s arc seems very deliberately placed and dropped off without much thought. Performance wise the film is nearly stolen by Jacob Lofland (of Mud fame) who perfectly captures the innocence, anger and uncertainty of youth here compounded by tragic events. A lingering close up of his weary face late in the story provides the film with one its most striking images. It’s he and his fellow actors who hold Little Accidents steady even as it hits occasional rocky ground.