Autum Run | Official Movie Website

The Film:

   Set in present day at a family cabin on a river in Northern California, the film tells the story of a reunion of four adult siblings and uses flashbacks to reveal scenes from their past, and a family secret that has been kept far too long. Here we have family drama, love, lies, secrets, sibling rivalry, life-changing decisions, and a truth that finally comes out.

The siblings are: Philomena, Rob, James, and Ben. We see them in present day, ten years earlier, and a few years earlier than that. We see their mother, with a younger Ben at ten years old. We see Ben's mentor, White Hawk. We also see Ben's teenage girl friend, Tracy, and her dog, Spike.

During the opening credits: we see the siblings as they journey to the cabin, and a flashback to Ben's childhood, showing his mischevious nature and how he met his mentor, White Hawk. More driving scenes as the beauty of Humboldt Coumty is revealed and the siblings get closer to the cabin. Rob is the first to arrive in his hardware store pickup truck, followed by Philomena in her car, James in a rental from the airport, then Ben on his motorcycle.

The protagonist and narrator of the story is the youngest brother, Ben. Beginning with a prison visiting room scene and a flashback, Ben tells about the event 10 years earlier that divided the family and sent him to prison.

   Throughout the film, references are made to prior events. Flashbacks allow us to see those events through the eyes of the siblings as they remember them. Near the end of the film, we see the siblings signing real estate papers on each others' backs. This is followed by the burning of the sole remaining piece of evidence of the event that happened 10 years ago.

The final scene takes place in the morning following the signing and burning ceremony. Standing at the river's edge, the siblings enjoy a childhood memory and passtime: skipping rocks. Then Ben, walking alongside his mentor, narrates a description of the years that will follow. More Humbold County beauty is shown as the final credits reveal the many people who helped make this film possible.

   Set along the beautiful Mattole River in rural Humboldt County, California, filming was completed in 15 days in November 2020 while staying within budget and Covid-free.