RiverofGrasshasalltheelementsofaconventionalroadmovie:acar,agun,criminalplans,andyoungloversontherunfromanangryfatherwhoalsohappenstobeasuspendedpoliceofficer.ButwriteranddirectorKellyReichardthasinsteadtakenthesefamiliarelementsandfashionedananti-roadmovie,adeadpanfilmthatismoreexistentialistcomedythancrimedrama.TheyoungloversinquestionareCozy,thecop'sdaughter,andLeeRay,ashadycharacterfromthewrongendoftown.LeeRaycomesintopossessionofapistol,andsoonheandCozyfindthemselvesunintentionallyinvolvedinashooting.Fearingcapturebythelaw,thetwomakeplanstoleavetown,committingaseriesofrobberiesontheway.However,theydon'tmanagetogetveryfar;indeed,thefilm'scentralpremiseishowtheromanticmythofloversonthelamprovesdisappointinginthefaceofafarmorepedestrianreality.Thiswell-received,low-budgetindiewasshotonlocationinSouthFlorida,placingitsstoryagainstanappropriatelydepressedlandscapeofsun-bleachedstripmalls,barrenhighwaysandovergrown,swampyfields;thetitleisanothernamefortheFloridaEverglades.
