Now, Forager

Now, Forager

2012. USA/Poland. Directed by Jason Cortlund, Julia Halperin. A quiet tale about the search for integrity and the perfect mushroom, Now, Forager is a refined delicacy. Lucien and Regina are an urban couple living off the land. They forage for fungi in upstate New York and dream of following the seasonal emergence of exotic varieties across the country. They rent a small apartment, but the instability of their trade leaves them financially unstable. Regina’s decision to take a job in the kitchen of a hip restaurant offers a more solid opportunity, but it betrays Lucien’s off-the-grid ethos. Cinematically true to its gentle, fragile characters (including those unearthed in the woods), this film is a gift to those who take their slow-food politics seriously. It’s also one of the most romantic independent films of the year. Print courtesy of Argot Pictures. 93 min.