“A Wild Kindness” by Mattias Evangelista
It’s late summer in the Pacific Northwest, and a sense of adventure has struck Wymon. With his wife out of town, he has a few rare days to himself. For some reason, he knows exactly where he wants to go—the island. He grew up across the water from it but has never set foot there. For his entire life, it has sat in the cold waters of the Pacific, almost daring him to explore. Upon arriving on the island, Wymon encounters an older woodworker, Al, his apprentice of 20 years, Zack, and Al’s loving wife of over 40 years, Lindy. Their warmth and kindness quickly draw Wymon into their world. What begins as a casual conversation about art and woodworking soon evolves into a deeper exploration of love, relationships, and fate.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“Al and Lindy’s love story has been an inspiration for me throughout much of my adolescence and adulthood. Creating a film about their partnership that has withstood the test of time has always been a dream of mine. Beyond solely honoring them through this project, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to push my filmmaking craft further and explore the documentary form in new ways. It was important for me to create a film that feels raw, tender, and real; a film that feels distinct from what is being made today. By taking a hybrid approach to telling this story, I was able to connect more intimately with the main characters and create an experience rarely found in documentary. One of my core motives as a filmmaker is to elevate the small moments of life to feel grand — the way light reflects off of coffee steam in the early morning, a bee buzzing in the garden, a wrinkled hand from a lifetime of hard work, or a fleeting, loving glance of a soulmate. These often overlooked moments shape us as humans and form the essence of A Wild Kindness. I am incredibly grateful to Al, Lindy, Zack, and Wymon for letting us into their lives and allowing us to tell a small part of their collective story — a story that I am so excited to share with you.”
-Mattias Evangelista
CREDITS
Featuring
Al Rosen, Lindy Early-Rosen, Zack Sheidler, Wymon Smith
Directed By Mattias Evangelista
Executive Producer// Trust
Executive Producer// Sarah Brannan
Producer// Lauren Martin
Director of Photography// Christian Klein
Camera Assistant// Kyle McCarty
Edited by Jack & Jesse
Associate Editor// Mattias Evangelista
Colorist// Dylan Hageman
Sound Design & Mix// Roman Richard
Assistant Sound Designer// Lewis Thompson
Original Score// The M1
Additional Music// Damien Jurado
Graphic Design// Jake Stoumbos
Poster Design// Marie Marchant
Equipment Rentals// Rarebreeds, Arron Nelson
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