John Magaro is a Midwestern man, so he understands the plight of people like his character in Omaha, which premiered at Sundance over a year ago now. It’s a heart-wrenching film about poverty in America’s heartland and the tough decisions that sometimes are made, with Magaro’s quiet performance anchoring the more ebullient nature of his kids, who aren’t fully aware of the situation they’re in.
As their road trip to Omaha, Nebraska, progresses, it becomes even clearer that Magaro is hiding something, and it is that sense of dread, mixed with its slow but not plodding pace of a family making their way across the country. Ahead of the film’s wider release, Magaro sat down and talked to us about working with kids, the quiet reflection of this film, and how being a parent changes your perspective.
