60 Miles North is a coming-of-age feature film about Clarence Moran (Edward Crawford), who is at the crossroads in his career, and Wild Falls (Audrey Kovar), a woman battling a medical illness and doctors who do not believe her symptoms. Although both Moran and Falls are facing different problems, they find solace and support from each to get back up and find a solution to their issues.
The film dives deep into the complexities of chasing dreams, confronting setbacks, and the transformative power of unexpected connections as well as the challenges some patients face when dealing with doctors who are on a power trip or have a god complex, and refuse to listen to their patients until something terrible happens.
Directed by Crawford and co-directed by Jack Mulcahy, the film is written by Crawford, who draws upon his personal experience of having Lyme Disease and losing the opportunity to host Cash Cab.
Moran is an actor who gets his big break when he gets accepted to become the host of Cash Cab. However, his role was revoked after a background check found that he had a DWI 12 years ago. He is forced to move back with his parents, John Moran (Jack Mulcahy) and Dottie Ann Moran (Jashown), in his hometown only to find that his room has been rented out to Falls. Although Falls thinks her symptoms are from Lyme Disease she had previously, her doctors believe it is agoraphobia, ignoring her opinions. Falls believes that her one-week treatment for Lyme Disease wasn’t enough to fix it; however, her doctor believes it is a mental issue and refers her to a psychiatrist who also isn’t any help, and Falls has to suffer until things turn for the worst.
Moran, on the other hand, needs to find acceptance within himself instead of blaming everyone around him. His once in a lifetime opportunity failed, and he is forced to confront his future, as he grapples with a difficult decision: continue on the uncertain path of acting or retire from acting and take a more stable job on the railroad. His parents, as most parents do, want him to have a stable job instead of the uncertainty of becoming an actor, but Moran believes that he was meant to act.
Crawford delivers a brilliant performance that lays bare the character’s frustration, vulnerabilities, and the lingering self-doubts that follows every artist. Crawford’s portrayal of Moran will resonate with anyone who has ever dared to chase a seemingly impossible dream.
“Part of the reason I made 60 Miles North was to call attention to the life-changing effects Lyme disease can have on a person,” Crawford said in an interview with RespectAbility. “Many people suffer from Lyme disease for years before they’re taken seriously by their healthcare providers, which can delay treatment and cause additional pain and suffering, which can lead to isolation from friends and family. That’s a terrible thing for someone with a chronic illness to deal with, and it’s my hope that this film can bring wider awareness to a disease that impacts an estimated half a million Americans annually and let people know that they are NOT alone.”
60 Miles North is a heartwarming narrative that offers a compelling character study with strong performances from the entire cast. The film’s focus on emotional depth will resonate with viewers who have ever dealt with any major setbacks while chasing their dreams as well as the frustrations of trying to get doctors to listen, only to be ignored. This film is a message to the medical community to listen to your patients as well as a story about overcoming adversity and finding the strength to keep moving forward.
60 Miles North will be available on VOD on July 9.
