A crush on a life that could have been…

A cold, snowy winter landscape introduces a story of a close relationship interrupted. We watch time pass, letting things happen: differences settle, and revelations emerge in an intimate tale that may linger in our minds for a while.

The protagonists are Max (Frances Fisher), married to Charlie (Bruce Davison); “whimsical” Diana Larosa (Mimi Kennedy), married to her dead husband, Wally; and Quinn (Stefanie Estes), Max and Charlie’s daughter.  The well-chosen cast brings warmth and sensitivity to the characters’ cold, unsettling drama.

Vintage color photos and handwritten letters in a storage box Max finds hint at what once existed, a strength and affection that remain; even though current circumstances are different, disillusionment hangs in the air, the sense of an opportunity lost.

Max’s serene look complements a Rapunzel braid; other references to the classic tale appear: the woods, the quiet atmosphere, the iciness, and the sounds of birds (in her head). Unfortunately, Max is forgetting things, and her life prospects diminish.

Love and commitment intertwine in this moving film, written and directed by Sal Bardo.