The Bleak, Brokenness & Beauty Of Small Towns Lunga Phewa There's something about American small towns; and even though I WAS BRON AND RAISED IN SOUTH AFRICA, something about those small-scale and mostly neglected towns resonates with me deeply, intimately, and profoundly special - and no film best evokes such emotions as this one, Nebraska. Having spent a good four to five years on the outskirts of American farmlands and their small towns, this film takes me to a special place where life is simply organic and as basic as it can get. Bringing back memories of the tucked-away landscapes of California's most unrecognized towns such as Firebaugh in the county of Fresno, Guinda in the Capay Valley in Yolo County, as well as Wisconsin's Horicon in Dodge County. Unlike the ever-bustling major cities and the over-monitored suburban manufactured division living; small-town avenues and farmlands are greeted by sunrises that you can never find no place else. The fresh morning breezes mixed with an aroma of cow manure, pig feed, and steam smoke from the creamery and local business boilers. The small dim-lit bars with usually ten to twelve stools and the neatly placed lonely pool tables. The one-stop small shopping centers with parking lots of a football field size that are usually all taken. The one post office, one police station, one real estate office, one salon, one tailor, one auto shop; one library, one or two gas stations, and a couple of worn-out buildings and closed down businesses kinda towns. The one main street, six churches, and three thousand max population kind of towns. The joy-filled annual festivals that mark centuries of heritage customs; be it a public harvest feast, or some tradition dating back to the early settlers of the town. Come winter and the real bleakness and brokenness appears. Neglected homes with falling gutters and exposed plyboards, family homes that were once warm and full. Farm barns that now stand held up by the grace of God, the lonely farmhouses whose owners have gone out of business and the children have ventured off to city living; silos, and rusty equipment that bury a century's worth of memories. The Rotary Club avenues made up of unyielding old-timers whose will far exceed their physical strength and ability. The last generation of actual heroes and role models. Nebraska reminds of a place in time when neighbors were actually neighbors. When everybody knew everybody - everybody was everybody’s business. I'm only 32 and only just resided in these locations a short while but the impact they've sewed in me goes far beyond everything I've ever experienced. Small towns are a time-travel vessel, a window into what love, warmth, and hospitality truly were. Of course, in every generation, there are those who’ve stained the past with their ideologies of malice, hatred, and wickedness. Small towns hold memories of extreme horror and devastation; echoes of suffering and untold despair. The memorable thin lane main roads and backroads, whose dents contain tire imprints of grain trucks and tractors to some small family farm that's just getting by with only 70 to 90 herds of cows. RV's that were filled with love and joy. And imprints of funeral hearses, escorting some resident’s spouse or relative; or some wagon hauling some dead animal off to its final place. Life can be brutal in small towns. The mill workers and their small unions. The food processing firms whose products are shipped all over the country and major cities; to kids who think that milk and eggs come from Walmart or gas stations. The old version, old school diners with checker floors and the best bacon and eggs in the country. Come Sunday, everyone congregates in some church building, to thank the Lord yet for another successful crop, another child that's going off to college, some Pa and Ma whose sickness has eased down. And to ask for a blessed Christmas with family and friends. And no matter how far you go; however the miles, States, and even continents you venture off to - your small-town memories will always have some hold on you. A lot can be said about such a place; Lord knows I pray my daughter (Naomi Grace) experiences the best of what the small towns of La Crosse have to offer. Finally, just one thing is left to note; Firebaugh was dry, Guinda was rainy, and Horicon was cold, but I'd go back to them all any given day.
I keep coming back to Nebraska and especially this scene. My parents are in their mid/late 60s now, so I am more and more aware of the fact that they will only be here for another 10-20 years. Spend time with your loved ones, before it’s all gone and only the “barn’s still standing..”
Agree. The mention of Woody’s brother dying in that room, then the camera pans to a fallen decrepit chair, not unlike a corpse. It’s a rare poetry for modern American cinema.
My grandparents' old farm got demolished without our knowledge. I'd give anything to go back to see that pile of, "old wood and some weeds", just one last time. Lots of great memories there.
The academy give Oscars to blacks who call whites racists based solely on that accusation then they allow said black to slap the host on stage and hurl vulgar ghetto talk and behavior live during the ceremony. Will Smith.
@@matthewosburn Um, no. Four of the five Best Actor nominees in 2014 (including Bruce Dern) were white and the winner was Matthew McConaughey (also white). Now have a seat. (For the record I still think Bruce Dern should've won. McConaughey and the other three are overrated.)
The Bleak, Brokenness & Beauty Of Small Towns
Lunga Phewa
There's something about American small towns; and even though I WAS BRON AND RAISED IN SOUTH AFRICA, something about those small-scale and mostly neglected towns resonates with me deeply, intimately, and profoundly special - and no film best evokes such emotions as this one, Nebraska.
Having spent a good four to five years on the outskirts of American farmlands and their small towns, this film takes me to a special place where life is simply organic and as basic as it can get. Bringing back memories of the tucked-away landscapes of California's most unrecognized towns such as Firebaugh in the county of Fresno, Guinda in the Capay Valley in Yolo County, as well as Wisconsin's Horicon in Dodge County.
Unlike the ever-bustling major cities and the over-monitored suburban manufactured division living; small-town avenues and farmlands are greeted by sunrises that you can never find no place else. The fresh morning breezes mixed with an aroma of cow manure, pig feed, and steam smoke from the creamery and local business boilers.
The small dim-lit bars with usually ten to twelve stools and the neatly placed lonely pool tables. The one-stop small shopping centers with parking lots of a football field size that are usually all taken.
The one post office, one police station, one real estate office, one salon, one tailor, one auto shop; one library, one or two gas stations, and a couple of worn-out buildings and closed down businesses kinda towns. The one main street, six churches, and three thousand max population kind of towns.
The joy-filled annual festivals that mark centuries of heritage customs; be it a public harvest feast, or some tradition dating back to the early settlers of the town.
Come winter and the real bleakness and brokenness appears. Neglected homes with falling gutters and exposed plyboards, family homes that were once warm and full.
Farm barns that now stand held up by the grace of God, the lonely farmhouses whose owners have gone out of business and the children have ventured off to city living; silos, and rusty equipment that bury a century's worth of memories.
The Rotary Club avenues made up of unyielding old-timers whose will far exceed their physical strength and ability. The last generation of actual heroes and role models.
Nebraska reminds of a place in time when neighbors were actually neighbors. When everybody knew everybody - everybody was everybody’s business.
I'm only 32 and only just resided in these locations a short while but the impact they've sewed in me goes far beyond everything I've ever experienced.
Small towns are a time-travel vessel, a window into what love, warmth, and hospitality truly were. Of course, in every generation, there are those who’ve stained the past with their ideologies of malice, hatred, and wickedness. Small towns hold memories of extreme horror and devastation; echoes of suffering and untold despair.
The memorable thin lane main roads and backroads, whose dents contain tire imprints of grain trucks and tractors to some small family farm that's just getting by with only 70 to 90 herds of cows.
RV's that were filled with love and joy. And imprints of funeral hearses, escorting some resident’s spouse or relative; or some wagon hauling some dead animal off to its final place. Life can be brutal in small towns.
The mill workers and their small unions. The food processing firms whose products are shipped all over the country and major cities; to kids who think that milk and eggs come from Walmart or gas stations.
The old version, old school diners with checker floors and the best bacon and eggs in the country.
Come Sunday, everyone congregates in some church building, to thank the Lord yet for another successful crop, another child that's going off to college, some Pa and Ma whose sickness has eased down. And to ask for a blessed Christmas with family and friends.
And no matter how far you go; however the miles, States, and even continents you venture off to - your small-town memories will always have some hold on you.
A lot can be said about such a place; Lord knows I pray my daughter (Naomi Grace) experiences the best of what the small towns of La Crosse have to offer. Finally, just one thing is left to note; Firebaugh was dry, Guinda was rainy, and Horicon was cold, but I'd go back to them all any given day.
You should come to Neb for the Crane Migration...google it
I keep coming back to Nebraska and especially this scene. My parents are in their mid/late 60s now, so I am more and more aware of the fact that they will only be here for another 10-20 years. Spend time with your loved ones, before it’s all gone and only the “barn’s still standing..”
One of my favorite Films. So profound yet so simple
This scene makes me so sad..I lost my brother recently. Brought back my memories of him.
I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope the film brings happy memories as well, or that you find a film that does!
Agree. The mention of Woody’s brother dying in that room, then the camera pans to a fallen decrepit chair, not unlike a corpse. It’s a rare poetry for modern American cinema.
One of very few films that made me cry and laugh.
“I was there.” Gives me chills every time
Three words that carry an impossible amount of meaning.
Incredible
My grandparents' old farm got demolished without our knowledge. I'd give anything to go back to see that pile of, "old wood and some weeds", just one last time. Lots of great memories there.
I dont remember, doesn't matter...simple but powerful line.
My favorite line too
Very Hemingway or DJ Pancake in it's succinctness
incredibly deep line. There's a kind of Eastern nihilism too it. The coming and going. Nothing truly matters x
guess nobody's going to whip me now ...................
Very touching scene in the movie. Loved Woody's way of putting things in perspectives.
Woody?
Such a wonderful film. Music. Is beautiful. Cast is superb. Dern is so perfect. Love the black and white. Underrated.
very good movie. like this scene
Gah, this scene kills me...
This is an incredible scene
Its the best artistic choice for them to make the movie black and white. I bet the movie wouldnt be as impactful if its in color.
How in the world did Bruce Dern not get an Oscar for his performance? The Academy is a joke.
They have been a Joke for years!!!!!
The academy give Oscars to blacks who call whites racists based solely on that accusation then they allow said black to slap the host on stage and hurl vulgar ghetto talk and behavior live during the ceremony. Will Smith.
he's white
@@matthewosburn Um, no. Four of the five Best Actor nominees in 2014 (including Bruce Dern) were white and the winner was Matthew McConaughey (also white).
Now have a seat.
(For the record I still think Bruce Dern should've won. McConaughey and the other three are overrated.)
you must be joking cuz Bruce Dern did won the oscar for best acting for this role.
This makes me miss my grandma a lot
Guess nobody is gonna whip me now...
Powerful
Good movie,
"Barns still standing..."
1.5 speed sadly ruins the beautiful timing of such a scene. Buy the DVD, it is worth the money.
Lol you still have a dvd player?
Did you ever want to farm like your Dad? I don't remember...it doesn't matter. Haha!
''looks about the same''
有人同我一齊去玩和湖
光境色過⋯大過大；😊😊😊胡風紀過要與
貓自已
is that house in loma or in another place?
Abandoned house in the country in Plainview NE I lived by that house
It’s in Plainview ne
Gimme the song please,the piano one.
“The Old House” by Mark Orton. The score for Nebraska’s on Spotify
Their Pie by Mark Orton was so beautiful and heart warming and closed out the film beautifully.
That woman is a bad actress
Felt better after this comment?
This was filmed in my home town Plainview Ne and filmed in an abandoned house in the country by mine
867th rd at 539th ave, Plainview Ne
Update: house looks to be razed sometime after 2018. but.... the barn's still standing.
"The barn still standing"