Natural Selection (2011 film)
| Natural Selection | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Robbie Pickering |
| Written by | Robbie Pickering |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Steven Capitano Calitri |
| Edited by | Michelle Tesoro |
| Music by |
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Production company | Best Medicine Productions |
| Distributed by | The Cinema Guild |
Release dates |
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Running time | 90 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $150,000[2] |
| Box office | $55,282[3] |
Natural Selection is a 2011 American road comedy-drama film written and directed by Robbie Pickering (in his feature directorial debut). It stars Rachael Harris, Matt O'Leary, John Diehl, and Jon Gries. It follows a devout Christian housewife who discovers that her dying husband has an illegitimate son and sets out on a quixotic journey to find him.
The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 13, 2011, where it won seven awards including the Grand Jury and Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature. It was theatrically released in the United States on March 16, 2012, by The Cinema Guild. It received positive reviews from critics, who mostly praised Pickering's direction and screenplay, as well as Harris' performance. At the 27th Independent Spirit Awards, it earned two nominations: Best First Feature and Best Female Lead (for Harris).
Synopsis
[edit]Linda White, a barren Christian housewife, leads a sheltered existence in suburban Texas. Her world is turned upside-down when she discovers that her dying husband, Abe, has a 23-year-old son through a sperm bank named Raymond living in Florida. Somewhere on the edge of guilt and loneliness, Linda grants Abe's final wish and sets off on a quixotic journey to find Raymond and bring him back before her husband passes away. Along the way, Linda's wonderfully bizarre relationship with Raymond's roommate, an escaped con purporting to be Raymond, will teach her more about herself than she ever imagined possible and force her to come to terms with her troubled past.[4]
Cast
[edit]- Rachael Harris as Linda White
- Matt O'Leary as Raymond
- John Diehl as Abe
- Jon Gries as Peter
- Gayland Williams as Sheila
- Stephanie King as Shaunice
- Rob Huebel as Martin
- Bernadette Pérez as Porno Nun
- Drake Dempsey as Porno Priest
- Michael Hyland as Handsome Doctor
- Greg Grosh as Sperm Clinic Doctor
- Loomis Warren as Country Doctor
- Melinda DeKay as Stern Nurse
- Hallie Martin as White Trash Fox
Awards and accolades
[edit]Natural Selection was well received at its 2011 South by Southwest debut, winning both jury and audience awards for best narrative feature, in addition to best screenplay, best editing, and best score/music.[5]
Lead actors Rachael Harris and Matt O'Leary both received breakthrough performance awards.
The film so impressed critic Roger Ebert that he showed the film at Ebertfest in 2011 and granted it three-and-a-half out of four stars.[6] Both director Robbie Pickering and actress Rachael Harris received Golden Thumb awards.
References
[edit]- ^ "Natural Selection" (PDF). The Cinema Guild. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Pahle, Rebecca (March 16, 2012). "The Key to Natural Selection". MovieMaker Magazine. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Natural Selection". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Pickering, Robert. "Natural Selection". Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
- ^ "SXSW Film Award Categories". Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
- ^ Roger Ebert (June 20, 2012). "Natural Selection Review". Retrieved June 23, 2013.