Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Howie Sheffield lives in Brooklyn with his parents, Tom and Carla, and his younger brother Simon. Their home life is tense: Tom’s infidelity threatens the stability of the marriage, and emotional distance looms between family members. Howie develops a crush on Odessa, an adult woman he sees on his daily bus ride. He follows her and tries to connect, though awkwardness and uncertainty pervade their interactions. Meanwhile, Howie also befriends Lindsay, a peer dealing with her own issues, and this more grounded friendship stands in contrast to his idealized interest in Odessa.
Through his internal reflections and external choices, Howie gradually confronts his sense of identity, his feelings of desire, and the complexities of human relationships. The film frames the transition from adolescence to emotional self-awareness as gradual, built out of many small moments rather than sudden turning points.
Reviews
“In her first feature, writer-director Melissa Miller Costanzo takes the slenderest of narratives — about Howie’s coming of age and the unraveling of his wearily unhappy parents’ marriage — and in sharp-eyed scenes makes those common stories feel fresh and real.”
Hollywood Reporter
“Costanzo displays a shrewd ability to showcase different facets of humanity in a compelling but understated manner. This isn’t the type of movie that favors grandiose reveals or overly saccharine sentiments, yet it packs a powerful punch. That’s party due to the way she stages the drama, preferring wide and medium shots where the actors can utilize their settings (such as a school library for a confessional chat and the townhouse wall separating a father and his sons). It also allows the actors to react to each other in steady long takes. When she does employ closeups, it’s arresting since the actors address the camera, as if tackling their problems head-on.”
Variety
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album includes the song My Love Will Bring You Back performed by Michael Flynn/Slow Runner. Brian d’Arcy James and Molly Ringwald participated in a live session for the song. As far as I can tell their version isn’t used in the film or on the soundtrack but the session is on YouTube: