Plot introduction
AbrieftripbackhometurnsintoalongerstaywhenEricfindshimselfcaughtbetweencatchingupwithhistwosistersandconqueringhisoldpokergroup.ThemoreEricextendshisvisittoprovethatheisstillthebestpokerplayerintown,theharderitbecomestosteerclearoftheoldfaultlinesinhisrelationshipwithhissisterRachel.AstheirlittlesisterMaggieattemptstorecreatetheintimateworldtheyonceshared,EricandRachelarefacedwiththedividebetweentheirchildhoodselvesandtheadultstheyhavenowbecome.Displayingallthesensitivityandwickedhumourofhispreviousworks,DustinGuyDefa’snewfilmisashrewdstudyofthepitilessconditionknownasadulthood.Aftergrowingupinafamilyunitthatconstitutesyourwholeworld,withitsparticularsetofhabitsandasharedlanguage,crossingtheborderintotherealmofadultscanfeeldisempowering,eventerrifying.Asenseoflossmaybedifficulttoeverreallyovercome.Thefilm’smeticulousstructureandnovelisticdepthlaybarethisfundamentalfear,butalsotheresourcesthatexisttofightit.Settingaboutthistreasurehuntdeepwithinasindividualsandasafamilyisanadmirabletrioofactorswhoseinterpretationisasnuancedasitispoignant.
expand all
