What do we live by? Set in 2008 during the global financial crisis, the film follows the journey of one family. Martin hurriedly wakes his children, Ella and Charlie, and bundles them into the car. Together with their dog, the family sets off for Nebraska in an old vehicle that can barely start. While the children are excited, thinking it’s just an ordinary trip, Martin’s face shows nothing but exhaustion. This is no memory-making vacation, but a weary pilgrimage of resignation—one that involves parting with their beloved dog and putting back groceries at the checkout counter to face a painful reality. Omaha is a poignant road movie that traverses the bleak, barren stretches of the American continent. John Magaro’s weary face hauntingly captures the distorted portrait of a father confronting despair, while Cole Webley’s delicate yet restrained direction shines in this impressive feature debut. (MOON Juhwa)