I am tempted to write a long explanation and analysis of this incredible film, but a previous reviewer has done so already. To give too much away is to spoil the experience that can simply be described as an off-the-wall treatment of a tragedy. The film portrays a married couple who lost their son to cancer, and how they handle life once shiva (the week-long tradition of mourning the dead in the Jewish religion) is over. The father seems to be deeply depressed and looks for connection by hanging out with his son's friend who lives next door. The mother, a teacher who returns to teach school and is sent right back home, seems to be in shock throughout most of the film. On paper, this might read like a downbeat film, and it is anything but. It is quite hilarious. The father returns to the hospice where his son died to rescue a packet of medical marijuana and cannot role a joint. The son's friend rolls one in seconds and they both get high. There are also many poignant moments when these two visit with a young girl whose mother is at the hospice. All of the elements of comedy and drama are beautifully balanced. There is not one misstep in the story, dialogue or pacing of the film; one wants it to go on much longer than it does. The acting is uniformly excellent, and Polonsky uses widescreen beautifully to enhance the emotional back and forth of the events he films. I told Polonsky that he has a great gift. I saw this film several days ago, and it is still with me. I was delighted to see that the film will be released on video and streamed in the U.S. once it makes the rounds of the film festivals. It is the kind of movie where one can see new things with every viewing, and I can't wait to see it again.
