Wind River

Wind River is a 2017 thriller film starring Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, and Graham Greene. The film follows Cory Lambert (Renner), a wildlife officer in Wyoming who discovers the body of a young Native American woman while on duty. Lambert teams up with FBI agent Jane Banner (Olsen) to investigate the case and find out who is responsible for the girl's death.

The setting of the film is a bleak and frozen Wyoming landscape, where the harsh winter weather adds to the tension of the story. The film's title, Wind River, refers to the isolated and sparsely populated Wind River Indian Reservation, where the victim lived and where much of the investigation takes place.

As the investigation delves deeper, it becomes clear that the girl's death is just one of many tragedies that have befallen the reservation's residents. The film highlights the social and economic issues facing many Native American communities, including poverty, drug addiction, and lack of access to basic services.

Renner's performance is standout, showcasing his ability to convey deep emotion without relying heavily on dialogue. His character, Lambert, is dealing with his own personal tragedy and struggles to come to terms with the grief of the victim's family. Olsen, as the inexperienced FBI agent Banner, portrays a determination to solve the case despite the many obstacles they face in their investigation.

The interactions between the Native American characters and the white outsiders, including Banner and Lambert, are portrayed in a sensitive and nuanced way. Greene's character, Ben, is a standout, providing both humor and gravity to the film as a Tribal Police Chief who is also dealing with the issues facing his community.

The film is masterfully directed by Taylor Sheridan, who also wrote the screenplay. Sheridan, known for his previous work on the acclaimed films Sicario and Hell or High Water, brings a keen sense of pacing and story structure to Wind River. He makes excellent use of the barren landscape, amplifying the sense of isolation and danger that pervades the film.

Wind River is a powerful and compelling film that addresses important social issues while still providing an engaging story and memorable characters. The performances from the talented cast, the breathtaking visuals, and the skilled direction and writing all combine to make this a must-see film.