The movie 13 Minutes shows how tragedy, no matter what form it may present itself as, can bring people from different backgrounds together.
In this film that sentiment is put to the test and challenges us as viewers to look internally and ask ourselves this: How willing are we to put others before ourselves?
13 Minutes is set in the heartland, taking place in the small town of Minninewah which, interestingly enough, means a whirlwind and serves as a foreshadowing of the literal and emotional whirlwind that the movie takes us through.
I am so amazed at the myriad of issues that 13 Minutes tackles in such a short amount of time. These are real issues that we all face in America, and across the world, today. Healthcare, racism, prejudice, xenophobia, homophobia, abortion rights, representation of disabled communities and so much more are presented in an authentic way.
With such a task set before her, director Lindsay Gossling does such a great job tackling these subjects, a standout being the way that the cast of characters interact with each other.
Too often we tend to forget that our lives are impacted by not only those who are closest to us but to those who are strangers as well. The authenticity and intimacy of this feeling registered with me, not only because of the relatable issues but because I can empathize with the characters that are portrayed on screen. I’ve experienced some of these things in my own life.
13 Minutes opens up with us meeting Rick (played by country music legend and actor Trace Adkins) and Tammy (played by Emmy Award-winning actress Anne Heche) who are farmers trying to stay afloat and make ends meet. They have hopes to pass on the family business to their son Luke (played by versatile actor Will Peltz of Euphoria and Entourage fame).
One of the most relatable things about this movie is that each character is going through their own personal fight in their lives, many of them in a battle with their own demons and looking for the confidence to be who they want to be no matter what anyone else thinks. This is especially true for Luke.
This is just one of the four families that we get to meet and experience in this movie. Later we are introduced to Maddy (played by actress Sofia Vassilieva of The Little Things and Black Lightning), a teenaged hairstylist trying to find her path in the world. We find out she’s just learned some life-changing news that could turn her world upside down.
One thing that is prevalent in society, especially in small towns like these, is how people view you. Because of this your reputation can weigh heavy on anyone, especially a teenager. Everyone knows everyone and someone is always in your business. We see how Maddy navigates this pressure and the expectations of her.
Vassilieva’s portrayal of Maddy is so down to earth and honest, this really adds to the experience of watching this film.
We also meet Maddy’s mom Jess (played by Thora Birch of The Walking Dead) who is a single parent just trying to do right by her daughter while going through her own internal drama. This is a great centerpiece not only for Maddy but for the community of their town.
It seems like empathy is among one of the big themes in this film and Gossling does such a great job putting us into the shoes of these characters, in many ways these characters are us, the viewers. 13 Minutes puts a mirror in front of us and challenges us to take a look at how we go about life. It begs us to be brave enough to look inside, to look at how we treat one another in our daily lives, and that’s even more important during tragedy.
In our world that is being ravaged by Covid-19, the spotlight on how we can pull together or tear each other apart during dark times is so clear. What a sobering message that this film brings to us.
The next few families that we meet add more layers to this story and set up the next act.
We shift over to the community motel and meet its employee Ana (played by actress Paz Vega of Spanglish and Rambo: Last Blood), a maid working hard to realize her own personal slice of the American Dream. For her that means buying a house and creating a forever home with her fiancé Carlos (played by Yancey Arias of Queen of the South). He’s trying to find work and establish himself here in America.
Vega does such a remarkable job embodying the hope drive of countless people who have sacrificed everything to build a new life. We see a vivid picture of how people can treat others who speak a different language, and how they are treated or seen as inferior. 13 Minutes does a great job building up to the eventual storm with mini storms through the interactions we see in this movie.
Lastly, we meet Kim (played by Amy Smart of Crank and Stargirl) the Regional Emergency Manager. We see her journey in this movie as she is keeping close tabs on the approaching storm and is responsible for making sure that the community knows when it’s time to prepare for shelter.
Interestingly enough, Kim, I feel, serves as an example of the people in our lives who keep everything together. The one that always has to be strong, subsequently has struggles as well, but has to keep those in check lest the people that look up to her waiver. Smart does so well portraying this strength in the midst of this storm.
Part of Kim’s family is her husband Brad (played by Peter Facinelli of The Twilight Saga) and her hearing-impaired daughter Peyton (played by Shaylee Mansfield of Feel The Beat and Noelle). Brad is a meteorologist and is also responsible for communicating the weather to the community. With these responsibilities, we also see how they navigate their responsibility to Peyton. I love the representation of this film and Mansfield’s performance is captivating and draws you in.
All of their stories intersect and they paint a very real picture of the state of the world today! While establishing who these characters are and helping us get familiar with their journey, the movie still keeps pace and it had me anticipating what’s next. The way that the producers were able to capture the storm and its devastation, this is the central point that brings everyone together.
As the storm approaches and the sirens are initiated, we see the response of our characters and witness the varying responses to the impending danger. This is a great parallel to society and how we respond to danger that seems far off. This could be anything; political, environmental, human rights, etc.
13 Minutes did a great job in making me feel invested in the lives of each of these characters. As the time came for the storm, Travis Farncombe, one of the producers on the film who is also a certified storm chaser, had a desire to really take a look at the lives of the people and communities that are affected by tornados. Once the storm hits, though devastating, it provides an opportunity for our differences to be put aside and demands us to come together, lock arms and overcome this tragedy and rebuild.
After the storm there are so many chilling moments in the aftermath. Many people have to make tough choices, experience regret, face disownment and empowerment. I’ll come clean and say that this part of the movie brought tears to my eyes because I identified so closely with so many decisions that they had to make in these moments.
All in all, 13 Minutes is a must-see movie and is a raw look at our society and how important it is to cherish family, community, and life. It’s an inspiring movie that requires us to be better after watching it. | THIS.
[By Alex]
