This film follows the trip of five old college friends that is no where near relaxing: A married couple with secrets, friends who one thought they were a couple while the other just fools around, and a mother who's divorcing her husband. Overall, the characters all have their inner demons and fears: abandonment, loneliness, and Anger are just a few and thats what makes each one of these characters dynamic. Each character has their own story and their own struggles that connects them all together and strengthens them in the process. The simplistic shooting style combined with the natural beauty of the Maryland woods surrounding the Potomac make this an enjoyable film. You can see that the directer put his all into it. But at points audio was difficult to comprehend and the days that these friends were on were at some points lost. But overall the story was one that you could learn off of from life lessons but this film also shows how to make a film with just something so beautiful and inexpensive: Nature.
9 Reviews
An Indie film touching on the Secrets and Struggles of Friends
ramenloverkyo27 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
An interesting journey (in more way than one)
yumekuikenbun7 December 2015
This film takes the viewer on an emotional, and philosophical, journey by showing the lives and hardships of the characters in an extremely raw and personal way. The writing stands out as being exceptionally well done; the characters' dialogue flows well and their lives and problems are so believable that the viewer connects with each and every one of them. The film itself was created on location, over an extensive period of time, and the filmmakers encountered many problems along the way. While these hurdles (mainly the slight issues with lighting and audio at times) do make certain moments in the film hard to follow, they also add a sense of authenticity to the exhaustion and struggle felt by the characters in the film. Overall, there were a couple of technical issues, but the film itself can be called an intriguing study of human nature.
Timeless except for the hair
sweetsugar-262982 December 2015
A solid first feature by Jonathan Slade. This film is a story about real people that you can relate too, not a fabricated Hollywood character. Without looking as the wardrobe and hair choices (clearly 90's), the film is timeless because the center of the film is these relationships with each other and living life in a confusing and difficult time in a persons life. The cinematography left something to be desired as the camera is very static and uninteresting, however, this allows the audience to be a part of the film, as another character. There is very much a feeling that you are sitting with the characters by the campfire and bicycle-riding in the forest. Over the course of the film, these characters develop and discover parts of them they never really wanted to see or admit too and that is so relatable.
Forest for the Trees is Great
mynameisjono19 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Forest for the Trees is a great example of American Independent Film. Its low budget, non-professional actors and actresses, on location footage, and small crew in the context of its end result in cinematic magic, or as I like to call it, cinemagic! It follows five college students on a five day bike ride. Although at times the action trails off, the drama only escalates as the miles go by. The characters cycle through an array of emotions as their relationships spin out of control. The dramatic ride can be hard to handle, not unlike real life, and can leave the viewer too tired to cope with the drama and occasional suspense. The group spoke about matters of marriage, children, dating, engagement, divorce, jobs, adulthood, and more. The audio was hard to hear at times, but that was my only negative comment. All in all it's a "wheelie" great movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised by it.
Some old college friends learn about life on a bike trip.
Kiyone9 October 1998
A touching and funny movie by professor Jonathon Slade, this movie is about a group of old college friends who go on a biking weekend together. Throughout the weekend conflicts occur between the characters and their personal problems. These friends are on their "last big hurrah" before joining the real world as adults.
An Indie Film about the Struggles of Relationships
mld-3940925 November 2015
Forest for the Trees is an American independent film that looks at struggles every twenty-something eventually faces. From marriage and infidelity to raising children, the film examines some of life's most challenging moments in a very upfront manner. While the beginning of the film drags on for a little bit, once the group of old friends begins their camping trip, the drama escalates and you find yourself wondering if any of these friendships will survive. The film leaves you reevaluating your outlook on relationships, whether they are with your spouse or friends, and ends with the idea that these people learned something about themselves that they might not have ever realized. All in all, it is definitely worth watching!
A touching and dramatic Indie film
haleyduff24 November 2015
This film was very interesting to watch. Having been put together on such a small budget the filmmaker did a very good job at using what he had. This included the actors that were hired as well as the environment where filming took place. It was interesting to find out that the actors were hired partially on the basis of if they could provide their own bike and camping equipment to keep the cost of the entire production lower. The story takes place along the CNO canal and the use of relevant land marks to that area was very accurate. The narrative to this story is intriguing in that it is dramatic and at times comedic while giving each character their own struggle and path to follow throughout the film. The filming techniques were very specific, the close up shots, action shots, and moving shots all give more to the overall plot and storyline that goes on throughout the film. I enjoyed watching it and would recommend it!
Review
aac-7459919 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This film was interesting in the fact that it followed a group of college students on their bike riding trip the entire time (even though they looked like they were in their 30's). I enjoyed how you got to know the relationships between the characters and how they intertwined throughout. The conflict uprising of the characters personal problems is when I finally became locked into watching. I really wanted it to be a horror film since it took place in a forest the entire time, but unfortunately it wasn't. It is a film that I would recommend to others in the sense that you see who each character truly is
by the ending.
by the ending.
A post-college group of friends bike and camp through western Maryland, and learn more about themselves, each other, and where their lives may be headed next.
nikolatzenov4 December 2015
Forest for the Trees, an American independent film written and directed by professor Jonathan Slade, follows the short adventure of several friends bicycling through Western Maryland as one final getaway after college and before they head off to face life. They soon learn however, that life has already arrived for many of them, and they each have a struggle to face and overcome in their own way.
The cinematography is solid, providing good framing and unique shot variety; combined with natural lighting, the shots lend themselves visually to the narrative unfolding. The audio quality lacks at times, but nothing to the point of ruining the film. Slade presents each character in a unique but believable way, each having a struggle that most young adults will or can relate to. Ultimately, Forest for the Trees is a great example of a realistically written and well-shot American independent film that even almost 20 years later relevantly examines struggles relatable to young post-college adults.
The cinematography is solid, providing good framing and unique shot variety; combined with natural lighting, the shots lend themselves visually to the narrative unfolding. The audio quality lacks at times, but nothing to the point of ruining the film. Slade presents each character in a unique but believable way, each having a struggle that most young adults will or can relate to. Ultimately, Forest for the Trees is a great example of a realistically written and well-shot American independent film that even almost 20 years later relevantly examines struggles relatable to young post-college adults.
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