2015 | USA | NR | 84 min.
This quietly shattering drama follows Sherwin—played
with understated perfection by
“Selma” star David Oyelowo—as he reels from
the sudden death of his wife. A sense of responsibility
sends him to Maine for a visit with his
estranged, cancer-ridden mother-in-law (Dianne
Wiest). The icy reception he receives hints at a
fraught history between mother, daughter, and
son-in-law that is gradually revealed during the
visit. Expertly handled by writer/director Maris
Curran, “Five Nights in Maine” is a nuanced and
naturalistic study of the way we process grief,
as well as the unspoken tension that seethes
beneath the surface of related people when
their connection is suddenly gone. Featuring a
refreshing performance by Rosie Perez as Lucinda’s
home nurse, this film is at once heartbreaking
and beautifully full of life. In Person:
Director Maris Curran.