Rachel River (1987)

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Rachel River is a small town in Minnesota. When local "looney tune" Aileen Cole dies, the town comes to the slow realization that the reclusive Cole has in fact touched the lives of virtually every citizen--and nearly always in a positive manner. That realization is so slow because, immediately… More Rachel River is a small town in Minnesota. When local "looney tune" Aileen Cole dies, the town comes to the slow realization that the reclusive Cole has in fact touched the lives of virtually every citizen--and nearly always in a positive manner. That realization is so slow because, immediately after Cole's demise, everyone is more concerned with scrambling to recover a buried treasure rumored to be on the old woman's property. The very thin plotline is fleshed out by individual episodes involving some of the town's more visible denizens: Cole's slobbish nephew Craig T. Nelson, Nelson's viper-tongued sister Jo Henderson, elderly Viveca Lindfors, local radio personality Pamela Reed, covetous undertaker James Olson, and "village idiot" Zeljko Ivanek, whose top billing in the opening credits is justified as the story develops. Rachel River premiered in June of 1989 as a PBS American Playhouse telecast, then enjoyed a brief theatrical distribution. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Sandy Smolan
Genres: Drama, Romance

On DVD: May 7, 1992

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Well acted by Pamela Reed, the film offers a vivid, comic and touching view of ordinary life in rural Minnesota.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A magical movie about the emotional education of adults in a small Minnesota town.

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