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Wes Studi and Dale Dickey star in "A Love Song."
“A Love Song” is a simple little movie whose plot could be encapsulated in a couple of paragraphs. But that kind of summary would undersell the film, which, contrary to what its title implies, isn’t either a pure romance or about a single song.
Rather, the music is a bunch of songs that Faye (Dale Dickey) spins up on her old battery-operated portable radio as she sits in her camper on the side of a southern Colorado lake while she waits for an old friend to turn up at the remote campground.
As she patiently waits, living on crawfish she pulls out of the lake, studying birds during the day and stars at night, Faye encounters a cowboy family that wants to move the grave of their father, a lesbian couple who may or may not be getting married and a postman who walks in the mail, carried by a horse.
As she’s about to abandon her camp, Lito (Wes Studi) shows up with his big black dog and a handful of flowers, seemingly ready to romance the woman that he knew back in high school. But that isn’t exactly what happens, which is, in part, why writer-director Max Walker-Silverman’s debut feature is so good.
Avoiding cliches at all turns, “A Love Song” doesn’t fill up its 82-minutes with lots of backstory or exposition — by the movie’s end, the details of the character’s lives and how and why they ended up at the isolated campground are still sketchy.
But that puts the attention entirely on what Faye and, after he arrives well into the picture, Lito are thinking, saying and doing in the moment, and lets the audience reflect on what might have happened in their pasts.
The attention is further concentrated by the movie’s setting. Everything, save for a climb up a mountain on the other side of the lake, takes place within a few hundred yards of the camper, a confined space surrounded by desolate, wide-open vistas.
As for the music, Faye maintains that the radio plays the perfect song whenever she or Lito spins the dial. And, playing softly in the background, it does.
Most of all, the movie is a showcase for its two stars, veteran actors who play real, lived-in characters and can convey deeply held feelings and hard truths with a look as much as words, critical in this film where dialogue is minimal and oft awkward.
Dickey, a character actress who’s been in dozens of TV shows and series, including “True Blood’ and now “A League of Their Own,” won the Independent Spirit Best Supporting Actress Award for her work in “Winter’s Bone.”
She’s even better here, carrying the film — she’s literally in every scene — with a survivor’s grace, letting her lined, expressive face bring Faye, and the film, to realistic life.
Studi, the Native actor who in one of his first performances was in the Nebraska Educational Television production of “The Trial of Standing Bear” and received an honorary Oscar in 2020, is just as good, making Lito quiet, kind and uncertain.
Those performances, the script and Walker-Silverman’s direction and editing, make “A Love Song” an exquisite “little” movie that can’t help but create reflections on life, for it’s characters and, importantly, its audience.
"Torn Notebook," by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, at the corner of 12th and Q streets, is one of the public art masterworks in Lincoln.
The sculpture "Reflection," by Albert Paley, is located at Ninth Street and Salt Creek Parkway. The sculpture previously was on display in New York as part of the "Paley on Park Avenue" exhibition.
Artist Mark di Suvero used red beams to create Old Glory, located at Cather Garden on UNL campus, to represent the flag when seen against a blue sky with clouds.
Pitch, Roll & Yaw, a new sculpture by Lincoln artist Shannon Hansen, is lifted into place at the entrance to the Lincoln Airport in July 2015. The piece, in the shape of a giant paper airplane, was made of formed and fabricated steel by Rivers Metal Products of Lincoln from Hansen's design. The $100,000 sculpture was commissioned by the city of Lincoln and paid for by Duncan Aviation. Another of Hansen's pieces, Discover, is at Union Plaza.
Watchful Citizen was first produced as a small, desk-size casting called “Couch Potato” and later recreated life-size and renamed. It sits in the Haymarket at Seventh and P streets.
The sculpture Mbera, at the center of the roundabout at 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard, was a gift from the Marc LeBaron family to the city of Lincoln several years ago.
The Gettysburg Lincoln, by Daniel Chester French, is at the Nebraska State Capitol, west entrance.
Union College's Clocktower is undoubtedly the tallest artwork in Lincoln.
Artist David Young tests the stream of water flowing from his bronze sculpture "Rebekah at the Well" during a private ceremony unveiling the sculpture at Sunken Gardens in 2005.
Sculpture of child is at the Lincoln Children's Museum, 1420 P St.
"Groundwater Colossus" is a focal point at the Union Plaza in Antelope Valley. The sculpture is a personification of the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the largest aquifers and most important natural resources in the nation. Designed by James Tyler of New York, the sculpture sits near the Jayne Snyder Trail Center near 21st and P streets.
Artist Jun Kaneko's glass tower, Ascent, is illuminated on Dec. 21, 2014, at the Lincoln Community Foundation Tower Square at 13th and P streets.
Jene Highstein's Tem, will again be displayed on Centennial Mall along with its companion piece, Ptah.
"Acklie Fountain" was a gift in honor of Duane and Phyllis Acklie by their children in 2006. It combines corn maiden faces from the original Cornhusker hotel and some flower-like ornaments from the old City Hall.
Iron Horse Legacy (pictured in 2002) by Lincoln artist Jay Tschetter is located at Lincoln Station.
Floating Figure, by Gaston Lachaise, is at Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL campus.
James Surls' "Vase with Five Flowers," a bronze and stainless steel sculpture owned by local art collectors Karen and Robert Duncan, could be used in the center of the 14th and Superior streets roundabout. It is among artwork the Duncans will loan to the city for use in a public space.
Deb Bridges created this bench on the northeast corner of 12th and P Streets as part of the Slave Free Nebraska Public Heart Project.
"Garden of Faith, Hope, and Love" by Cathy Harrington is seen at Marcus Lincoln Grand Cinema as part of the Hildegard Center for the Arts' Doorways to Hope public art project in 2014.
Artist Gina Egenberger's work, Incandescent Flight, is on display in front of the Lied Center for Performing Arts in November 2014. The public art project celebrated the 25th anniversary of Lighthouse.
Kenny Smetter (left) and Tanner Russell of Chet's Transfer nudge the 2003 Tour de Lincoln piece, "Balancing the Books," into place outside the Gere Branch Library in 2014.
Liz Shea-McCoy, project director for Star Art — The Star City Art Project 2006, hangs out with her sculpture “Reach for the Stars.”
Ellen Wright, an environmental health educator with Public Works and Utilities, Miki Esposito, Public Works and Utilities director, promote the artistic snowplow project in December 2012.
Look Ma, No Hands, by Kendrik, Helms, Helms & Raddatz, at Normal and A streets.
Dan Peragine's Noos stands in Beau Richmond Park at 27th and Holdrege streets.
A mural by Jay Tschetter flanks the main entrance to the F Street Community Center.
An improvised mural by Lincoln artist Spencer Pacheco is making its way around the Kiechel Fine Art Building, 1208 O St. The mural eventually covered two sides of the four-story building.
Solar Semaphore by Jerome Kirk stands at 12th and O streets.
Lyman Whitaker's Double Spinner creates an optical illusion of perpetual expansion when it is blown by the wind at the Pioneers Park Nature Center.
The War and Victory sculpture by Ellis Burman in Antelope Park.
Hundreds of people file past the "Candy Box," an art piece in the concourse at Pinnacle Bank Arena after the arena's ribbon cutting on Aug. 29, 2013.
Mountain Monarch, by Rich Haines, stands at the Pioneers Park north entrance, off West Van Dorn Street. The sculpture is one of two at Pioneers Park that make the top 10 most valuable list of public art in Lincoln.
27th Street Hearth by Michael Morgan at Elaine Hammer Bridge Plaza.
If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again sculpture in Witherbee Park.
Rarin' to Ride by George W. Lundeen in Woods Park.
Frog Baby by Edith Barretto Stevens Parsons in Hamann Rose Garden.
Daydreams by Sondra L. Johnson in Cooper Park.
Sculptor Ben Victor (behind) watches as descendants of Chief Standing Bear help to unveil his sculpture on Centennial Mall. The sculpture is valued at $150,000.
Harvest, a sculpture in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena at Canopy and R streets, was dedicated in 2016. The $972,000 piece by Ed Carpenter was paid for using money set aside for artwork during the arena's original planning.
One of the Four Seasons Terminals sculptures at Kontras Park.
The bronze statue, Kneeling Figure, by Bruno Lucchesi, was installed in the upper level of the Sunken Gardens in December 2019. Lucchesi also created Pieta which is part of the Sheldon Museum of Art Sculpture Garden on the UNL campus. Kneeling Figure was donated to the City by Fred Southwick, son of orthopedic surgeon and artist Wayne Southwick, who also created the sculpture Reveille and gifted it to the city. Wayne Southwick studied under Lucchesi and Kneeling Figure was part of the family’s collection until her recent relocation to Lincoln. Many thanks to Fred and the entire Southwick family for their generous donations to Lincoln’s public art collection.
The sculpture "Nautilus," by Rico Eastman, was donated by Jane Rohman to the city of Lincoln public art collection and was installed in Union Plaza on Thursday.
Locate at the Sheldon Sculpture Garden on UNL City Campus.
The sculpture Tilted Donut #7 by artist Fletcher Benton, which was donated to the City of Lincoln by his estate, is now in place in Trago Park. The sculpture is easily viewed from Antelope Parkway, 22nd Street, and the pedestrian walkways and bike trails nearby. Art Makers Endowment funds helped pay for the transport of the work, enabling Public Art Lincoln and the City of Lincoln to accept this generous gift on behalf of the citizens of Lincoln.
By Jeff Fauser, located at UNL East Campus.
Located in Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL City Campus. Artist: Flectcher Benton
Sculptor and artist John Buck unveils his public art installation, "Palo Alto 1", during a dedication ceremony in May 2016 in the Rotary Strolling Garden, 27th Street and Capitol Parkway. The pieces is valued at $72,000.
"Dementia," a sculpture by Charles Ginnever, is now on loan to the city and on display on the north end of Holmes Park.
Karen and Robert Duncan stand in front of sculptures titled “Bop” and “Crazed” created by Charles Ginnever.
Jim Huntington's Wedgie greets visitors who drive into Densmore Park. The granite sculpture will be moved to 11th and G streets.
Located in downtown Lincoln. Artist: Larry Roots
Located at Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL City Campus. Artist: Roxy Paine
Clinton Elementary School fifth graders learn about the "Bather" by Jacques Lipchitz during a field trip at the Sheldon Museum of Art.
Located in the Sheldon Sculpture Garden, UNL City Campus. Artist: Robert Murray
Bicentennial Cascade Fountain in the Antelope Park Triangle at South 27th Street and Normal Boulevard.
Visitors often consider the dome of its Rotary Pavilion the "crown jewel" in the Sunken Gardens.
Richard Serra's corten steel sculpture "Greenpoint," installed on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus in 1991 as an "environmental piece," stands 16 feet tall and weighs 40 tons.
Two big sculptures by Nebraska artist Jun Kaneko now adorn the corner of Eighth and R streets in the Haymarket.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. On Twitter @KentWolgamott
Cast: Dale Dickey, Wes Studi.
The Reel Story: This exquisite little movie showcases veteran actors Dale Dickey and Wes Studi as high school friends who decades later meet at an isolated campground to, perhaps, rekindle an old flame.
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L. Kent Wolgamott, the recipient of the 2018 Mayor’s Arts Award, has written about arts and entertainment for Lincoln newspapers since 1985, reviewing thousands of movies and concerts and hundreds of art exhibitions.
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