Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Trevor Hawkins transfers the ecological wonder of his nature documentaries to the drama Lotawana, his debut feature film that he writes, directs, and edits. The lengthy opening montage depicts the tranquil lives of drifter Forrest (Todd Blubaugh) and New Zealander Everly (Nicola Collie) who live on a boat.
These lush nature scenes frame the perfect-looking couple in a breezy, beautiful world of crystal blue waters and cotton-candy skies. Within these scenes, Hawkins flexes his skill as an outdoor photographer. However, it gets a bit wearying watching such pretty people having the time of their lives. The first half of the film feels shallow and starts to drag, but it eventually unfolds into an incredibly moving tale of heartbreak.
In the second half of the film, Hawkins reveals that the languid pacing was a deliberate way of surprising the audience when the couple's bliss comes to a crashing halt after Everly discovers that she’s pregnant. Having a baby is not ideal for their nomadic and minimalist lifestyle; it would mean their ongoing vacation would have to come to an end. They contemplate abortion but eventually decide to keep the pregnancy and excitedly prepare for their new lives together until the film takes a heartwrenching turn that culminates in a shocking ending.
Blubaugh and Collie have a compelling connection that intensifies the story’s somber machinations and they convey their characters' tumultuous grief with a tender sincerity. Lotawana is a bittersweet portrayal of mourning and wanderlust. It has a painterly elegance that is absolutely breathtaking. This picturesque splendor offsets the protagonists' searing grapple with emotional trauma. The ending montage of roads not taken solidifies the devastating beauty of Hawkins' film. Editor's Choice.