film

Dark Summer Romance

In the stagnant haze of Californian heat, sensitive 17-year-old Lea (Lily McInerny, in her first film role) spends an aimless summer vacation lost in the ugly boredom of her deadbeat town. Jamie Dack’s debut film, “Power Lines and Palm Trees,” lingers on the bong smoke and beer-fueled chatter of boys that buzzes by Lea like radio static, while her calf eyes girlishly glance at the horizon, hoping something new will come her way. She is a flower sprouting in concrete, waiting to be plucked. Just be careful what you wish for.

Lea catches the attention of Tom, a disarmingly handsome 34-year-old man who presents himself as a white knight, rescuing her from loneliness, fulfilling her diary daydream of love with his soft voice and fixed stare, his graceful affection. Tom’s courtship is disturbingly romantic, even sexy, played with quiet magnetism by Jonathan Tucker, who over 20 years ago starred in another cruel story of girlhood, Sofia Coppola's debut, “The Virgin Suicides.” This time he is not a high school peer, but a hunter, stalking his prey with truly evil intent.

Lily McInerny, along with Gretchen Mol, who plays Lea’s emotionally absent mother caught in her own destructive love life, attended the film’s opening at The Moviehouse in Millerton, N.Y., where Mol serves on the board for the nonprofit independent theater. Originally based on a short film by Dack, the feature-length version of “Power Lines and Palm Trees” received critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, and is now playing in select theaters and on-demand through Momentum Pictures. The film also received four nominations at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards last month, including Best Supporting Performance for Jonathan Tucker and a well-earned Best Breakthrough Performance for McInerny, who anchors the film with the honesty of her character’s fragile innocence.

From left, "Palm Trees and Power Lines" actresses Lily McInerny and Gretchen Mol with Moviehouse co-owner Chelsea Altman. Photo by Alexander Wilburn

Photo courtesy of Momentum Pictures

From left, "Palm Trees and Power Lines" actresses Lily McInerny and Gretchen Mol with Moviehouse co-owner Chelsea Altman. Photo by Alexander Wilburn
film

Latest News

Webutuck softball falls to Housatonic

Webutuck softball falls to Housatonic

Webutuck High School’s Ciara “C.C.” Gray batted 2 for 3 against Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Thursday, May 2.

Riley Klein

FALLS VILLAGE — The battle for the border between Housatonic Valley Regional High School and Webutuck High School Thursday, May 2, was won by HVRHS with a score of 16-3.

The New Yorkers played their Connecticut counterparts close early on and commanded the lead in the third inning. Errors plagued the Webutuck Warriors as the game went on, while the HVRHS Mountaineers caught fire toward the end.

Keep ReadingShow less
softball

Modest budget increases in 2024-25 for school spending face May 21 vote

Modest budget increases in 2024-25 for school spending face May 21 vote
Modest budget increases in 2024-25 for school spending face May 21 vote
Modest budget increases in 2024-25 for school spending face May 21 vote

A vote across New York State on Tuesday, May 21 will decide school district budgets, members of each district’s Board of Education and special propositions.

The elections will be held in school gyms and cafeterias from Noon until 9 p.m. with mail-in ballots available.

Keep ReadingShow less
budget

Comptroller Pulver launches road salt alternative study

Comptroller Pulver launches road salt alternative study

Carl Baden, Pine Plains Highway Superintendent, shown in a photo last year with one of the town’s trucks. A study is underway by Dutchess County Comptroller Gregg Pulver to determine whether using a brine mixture on county roads instead of rock salt for winter storms would help save both the environment and money for Dutchess County.

Robin Roraback

POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Comptroller Gregg Pulver has launched a study to consider alternatives to using road salt on county roads.

Pulver said, “We are always looking to save taxpayer’s money and launching environmentally friendly road salt is a great way to accomplish both saving your money and protecting our environment.

Keep ReadingShow less
environment

Amenia approves several key initiatives

Amenia approves several key initiatives

Amenia’s Town Hall gym floor replacement was approved by the Town Board.

John Coston

AMENIA — Resolutions approving progress on several initiatives including a new Town Hall gym floor, environmental assessments for a new town garage and engineering services for the water district all won unanimous approval by the Town Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, May 2.

The need to replace the 2,436 square feet of flooring in the Town Hall gym has been under consideration for months, leading to a decision by the Town Board to utilize the services of local architect Tracy Salladay whose work will be to invite proposals from contractors for the project. The resolution indicates that the contractors’ proposals will need to be submitted by Friday, May 31.

Keep ReadingShow less
amenia town board