When Vancouver-based actress Alana Hawley Purvis met filmmaker Kyle Thomas and actor Joe Perry on set of The Valley Below in 2014, she knew someday they would reunite for a project reflecting their distinctive dynamic. Seven years later, the trio bring their refreshingly real chemistry into Range Roads, a prairie-rooted film about reconnecting with family and self-acceptance.
“It’s a hundred per cent prairie,” laughs Hawley Purvis, who stars as Frankie King, an actress who returns to her estranged hometown following the death of her parents. “The heart of the cinematography is about rural Alberta. You can see the familiar dynamic between beauty and horror, the memories of wanting to run away from it, and the learning of embracing it.”
While her character in Range Roads has a much messier family experience, Purvis feels an internal connection with Frankie. Most of the film is shot in Olds, Alberta, and the tranquility of the prairie landscape makes a fascinating comparison to Purvis’s always-in-transit character.
Along with the delicate yet heartfelt sibling dynamic she creates with co-star Perry, Purvis sees the significance of taking a pause from running away from buried memories.
“It’s that journey of accepting yourself, whether about your career or family. Everyone has something they want to run away from. We didn’t have a clear audience in mind when producing, because we want it to be something all are inspired by and could enjoy.”
Range Roads will have a theatrical run this May from 13-19 at Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market Cinemas in Calgary and at the Cineplex Odeon South Edmonton Cinemas. The film will be available on streaming platforms including TVOD iTunes, Amazon (to rent or buy), Google Play and Youtube from May 31.
