Intro

This is a film for the people who just can’t get enough of bittersweet melancholy.

Synopsis

The film is structured as a series of interconnected but semi-independent vignettes. We visit a series of women, each of whom is at some sort of turning point in her life. We begin with Glenn Close, a doctor caring for her ailing mother, then on to Holly Hunter, a bank manager unexpectedly and inconveniently pregnant, and so on. Kathy Baker is a writer being courted by a dwarf. Calista Flo…khart watches over her dying lover. Amy Brenneman is a lonely cop and Cameron Diaz is her blind sister off on a date. The performances are uniformly excellent, but the film’s tone of quiet desperation gets to be a bit much in the long run.

Audio

The audio is as understated as the film. Perhaps a little too understated — the trailer’s sound has considerably more energy. That said, there is absolutely no distortion, the overall sound is crystalline, and, for such a quiet film, there is a considerable presence of sound effects from the rear speaker, when appropriate.

Video

The picture is presented in both the original 1.85:1 widescreen format and in 1.33:1 full screen. There is no grain or pixellation, and the print is in excellent shape. The colours start off very vibrant, but then acquire a faint grey tinge, making the film a little darker yet than it absolutely needs to be.

Features

The menu is still and silent, and the only extra is a trailer.

Closing Thoughts

It really is too bad there is no commentary on this film. Clearly a labour of love by writer/director Rodrigo Garcia, the film is one that really invites a discussion of its structure and themes. While not perfect, the film does provide a group of talented women with some really meaty roles.

Special Features List

• Theatrical Trailer