Alena and husband Tom take an annual 2-week vacation in a adult / family camp in woods, arriving at season's end when they are the only guests. Alena has a childhood connection to the camp, and is having a once-a-year affair with the camp's owner / operator JB. Tom seems to like the solitude and is supportive of Alena. Despite Alena's question about open relationships, Tom is blind (or wilfully so) about Alena's activities.
The story is mostly told in reverse, with each year's actions being labelled with a chapter number. Hints of history are dropped, which are resolved when chapters of earlier events show what happened. It is like peeling off layers of an onion, until the core truth is revealed. The intrigue of this sequence of exposition is required for the story to have effect.
There are gorgeous sunset vistas, the heat between the lovers is undeniable, and the fire scene is stunning (the one seen in the posters). What I find tricky to accept is the end-of-season premise, with no fall foliage, and JB bringing on a new hire (which should be at the start of the season).
I saw this at the early evening show of opening weekend, and the writers, cast, producers, and crew were present for Q+A. (The director was in another city doing the same.)
A poll of the audience showed that the chapter numbers were very helpful in understanding the film. For an independent film, getting financing, etc. Was relatively easy, with a script-to-screen time of only 2 years. A live bat was actually involved. And the fire scene was shot in front of the fire, not green-screened, with firefighters adding fuel for each take.
