Jay Craven's Howard Mosher Tribute and Screening
Filmmaker Jay Craven will tell a few stories in a reflection on his 28-year collaboration with the late Vermont writer, Howard Frank Mosher— and he'll screen his first Mosher feature film, "Where the Rivers Flow North." Craven will open the evening with prepared and off-the-cuff reflections, “My Life, So Far, With Howard,” that explore his long collaboration with Mosher. He will then present a 25thAnniversary screening of “Where the Rivers Flow North,” starring Academy Award nominee Rip Torn, Native American actress Tantoo Cardinal (“Dances with Wolves,” “Legends of the Fall”), and Michael J. Fox.
“Howard was much more than a source for my film stories and characters,” said Craven. “He was also a constant ally, a ready source of laughs, and a steadying influence in times of strain. I will tell a few tales that have not been publically shared before—because they capture a rarely seen side of Howard and his work.”
Set in 1927 in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, “Where the Rivers Flow North” tells the story of an old logger, Noel Lord, and his Native American mate, Bangor, who face the extinction of their way of life when the local power company plans to build a giant hydro dam that will flood them off their land. Lord and Bangor face emotional and physical challenges as they struggle with the power company, Vermont’s unforgiving terrain, and their own thorny relationship.
“Where the Rivers Flow North” played more than thirty festival dates including Sundance, Seattle, Avignon, Vienna, and Vancouver. Special screenings include The Smithsonian, Lincoln Center, and Harvard Film Archive. The picture was also one of three U.S. finalists for Critics Week, Cannes International Film Festival. Critical comments include: “Breathtakingly beautiful.” (Bob Mondello, NPR); “A freshness rarely seen on screen.” (Caryn James, NY Times); “Powerful and unconventional.” (Geoff Gilmore, director, Sundance Film Festival) and “Remarkable performances” (actor Gregory Peck).
