Early settlers in the West, especially those adventurers who traveled north to Alaska, relied on sourdough to leaven bread before commercial baking powder and yeast were readily available.
Director Joseph Hardy tries to leaven the script's hostility by finding as much humor as possible, although the comedy is acerbic and the couple's heated exchanges often scalding.
On my way out, I see a lot of happy faces - hardly surprising as they've had an afternoon of good food, great music, a bit of dancing and a bit of poetry to leaven the serious messages.