Retake

Year: 2017

Runtime: 98 min

Language: English

Director: Nick Corporon

DramaRomance

An ambitious entrepreneur and a resourceful hustler travel from San Francisco to the Grand Canyon, attempting to reconstruct a man’s difficult history. During their journey, the boundaries of truth and illusion become increasingly unclear. They confront themes of deception, personal growth, and manipulation, ultimately seeking a path toward understanding and redemption.

Retake (2017) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the sun‑bleached expanse between San Francisco and the Grand Canyon, two strangers embark on a journey that feels both ordinary and otherworldly. Jonathan, an ambitious entrepreneur with a meticulously plotted life, meets a resourceful hustler who navigates the margins of the city’s undercurrent. Their unlikely partnership is sparked by a shared curiosity about a hidden past, and together they set out on the open road, leaving behind the familiar skyline for the endless horizon of the American Southwest.

The world they travel through is a shifting tapestry of desert towns, neon‑lit motels, and sprawling landscapes that seem to echo their inner uncertainties. The tone balances the gritty realism of a road‑trip with a lingering sense of unreality, as every mile blurs the line between what is genuine and what is fabricated. The desert’s stark beauty acts as a silent witness to their conversations, amplifying the film’s meditative atmosphere while hinting at deeper mysteries concealed within the scenery.

Adam—the hustler whose street‑wise instincts contrast sharply with Jonathan’s polished ambition—brings a pragmatic yet enigmatic energy to the pair. Their dynamic is a constant dance of negotiation: trust is extended and tested, identities are hinted at and reshaped, and the very notion of truth becomes fluid. Through their banter and quiet moments, the film explores how deception can be both a shield and a bridge, inviting each character to confront what they have built up and what they have left behind.

As the miles stretch toward the canyon’s rim, the journey becomes less about reaching a destination and more about navigating the fragile terrain of self‑discovery. The duo’s quest to piece together a difficult history serves as a conduit for broader reflections on manipulation, growth, and the possibility of redemption. The road ahead remains open and uncertain, its promise echoing the film’s lingering question: can the boundaries between illusion and reality ever truly be reconciled?

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:54

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Movies about manufactured intimacy like Retake

Stories where relationships built on deception blur into genuine, transformative bonds.If you liked the complex dynamic in Retake, you'll appreciate these movies about relationships that start with a lie. Discover similar romance and drama stories where fabricated connections, often involving hired companions or role-playing, lead to genuine emotional transformation and bittersweet endings.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically begin with a clear transaction or deception that forms the basis of a relationship. As characters spend time together, often in isolated or intense situations, the boundaries between performance and reality dissolve. The central conflict arises from the revelation of the truth and the characters' struggle to reconcile their genuine feelings with the fabricated premise of their connection.

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These films are grouped together because they share a core fascination with the authenticity that can be found within inauthenticity. They balance a bittersweet tone with a steady, character-driven pace, focusing on the emotional complexity of relationships that defy simple labels and often conclude with a mix of loss and hopeful change.

Melancholic road trip movies like Retake

Quiet journeys through vast landscapes that mirror a search for inner peace.Looking for more movies like Retake? Explore this collection of melancholic road trip dramas. These films feature lonely characters on journeys of self-discovery, using the open road as a setting for intimate conversations, unresolved grief, and bittersweet emotional connections.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows one or more characters who embark on a road trip not for pleasure, but as an escape or a deliberate attempt to confront a painful past. The confined space of the vehicle and the changing landscapes create a crucible for conversation and reflection. The journey's destination is often secondary to the emotional milestones reached along the way, culminating in an ending that is more about acceptance than a tidy resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific mood: a blend of melancholy and intimacy against a backdrop of travel. They prioritize character development over plot, using a steady pace to explore themes of loneliness and connection. The experience is defined by a reflective, sometimes dreamlike atmosphere and an emotionally resonant, if not entirely happy, conclusion.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Retake

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