News
Montana-bred twin filmmakers touting ‘Northfolk’
Leisurely childhood visits to Montana left an indelible impression on twin brothers Mark and Michael Polish, whose movie, "Northfork," is garnering national praise.
By CHRISTENE MEYERS
Of The Gazette Staff
Their paternal grandfather, an engineer and carpenter, helped build the Libby and Hungry Horse dams. Their father, Del Polish, a pilot and builder, schlepped them all around Montana.
Impressed, the California-based brothers, now 32, still spend as much time as possible at their home on Swan Lake in Western Montana.
"We consider ourselves born and bred Montanans," Mark says. "We still have tons of family here, and we have a deep affection and appreciation for Montana."
That comes through in their latest picture, shot in the Great Falls area and starring well-known actors James Woods, Nick Nolte, Anthony Edwards and Daryl Hannah.
The picture was an acclaimed entry in the 2003 Sundance Festival and is making waves nationally both for its quality and its remarkably small budget of around $2 million.
"What we did is convince Paramount of the worthiness of the project," Michael said.
Despite the big-budget, blockbuster mentality, Mark said, "They love small, interesting films with good writing."
Like most independent films, there is no huge studio budget for promotion of "Northfork," which is fine with the brothers.
They’ve hit the road, like an old-time Vaudeville dog-and-pony show, driving their mobile home around the country and pitching the film to anyone who will watch and listen.
Word of mouth, they say, is putting "Northfork" on the map. That and positive reviews from the likes of Chicago’s Roger Ebert.
With London-born Matt Tromans, "Northfork" producer, and Paramount Classics marketer Jonathan Sheldon, the brothers are going town to town to talk up the picture. Their rig is nicknamed "Brittney" — "because she’s nothing but trouble," jokes producer Tromans.
This week, they’ve visited theaters in Billings and Bozeman and chatted before the movie with the audiences. They give an articulate and brief pitch and thank people for their time and interest.
"They’re totally sincere and charming," said Lynne Turner Fitzgerald, who screened the picture at Wynnsong 10 on Tuesday night with her filmmaker husband and her mother and listened to the presentation before the film.
The movie is the third film by the brothers. Set in 1955, the film records the final days of Northfork, Mont., which is about to be flooded by the opening of an immense dam.
onthenet
cast and characters
A cadre of evacuation experts is called in, and other stragglers make their way across the screen. Mark Polish plays Willis, son of James Woods’ character, Walter.
"It’s a film about life and death and the inevitability of change," Mark said. "People seem to be touched by it because it’s also a story of family and loyalty and loss and adjustment."
The picture also has humor and hope.
"We’re not gloom-and-doom guys," Mark said. "I think we’re typical of Montanans — resilient, tough, with a sense of humor. We tried to make our characters that way."
The film is gaining praise for its moving acting, evocative mood and bare but gorgeous backdrop of Montana scenery and decaying buildings.
The brothers, who hope to retire in Montana, will continue to divide their time between here and California. The family lived in Sacramento for many years, but always maintained its Montana connection.
"It was so wonderful shooting a film here. It’s home," Michael said. "The landscape is awesome. It’s a wonderful environment, and we love the wide-open look of the area up around Augusta."
This particular cross-country jaunt is taking the brothers more than 11,000 miles. "We like the energy we feel, the contact with the people," Mark said.
The next project might bring them back to Big Sky Country, where the brothers say they have high hopes of continuing to pump up the economy with "a good, clean, nonpolluting industry."
Meanwhile, they’ll be keeping in touch with their relatives in Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Glen.
And talking up "Northfork."
Christene Meyers may be reached at 657-1243 or at cmeyers@billings gazette.com.
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
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