Natural Selection
Natural Selection is a 2011 indie comedy-drama film written and directed by Robbie Pickering.
Linda White (Rachael Harris), a devoted 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 illegitimate son named Raymond (Matt O'Leary) living in Florida. Linda grants Abe's final wish and sets off on a journey to find Raymond and bring him back. Along the way, Linda's wonderfully bizarre relationship with Raymond will teach her more about herself than she ever imagined possible.
Awards:
- Athens International Film Festival 2011 – Won Audience Award for Best Film
- Independent Spirit Awards 2012 – Nominated for Best First Feature, Nominated for Best Female Lead Rachael Harris
- Indianapolis International Film Festival 2011 – Won Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature, Won American Spectrum Prize for Best Narrative Feature
- Kansas International Film Festival 2011 – Won Independent Vision Award
- SXSW Film Festival 2011 – Won Audience Award for Narrative Feature, Won Grand Jury – Best Narrative Feature
- Warsaw International Film Festival 2011 – Nominated Competition 1–2 Award
Critic Reviews:
- " Despite its shortcomings, Natural Selection is an enjoyable film. " – C.J. Prince
- " Harris brings such amazing heart to her character that underneath all the guffaws you see that it's really a story about Linda and her discovery about what she wants and needs. " – Amie Simon
- " Rarely in comic dramas do you see such skill and attention to aesthetic detail, and it makes the film all the more impressive for it. " – Joseph Walsh