Sylvia is a social worker who leads a simple and structured life. This is blown open when Saul follows her home from their high school reunion. Their surprise encounter will profoundly impact both of them as they open the door to the past.
The roles are played admirably by all of the main actors and with little prompt or background or character development, we slowly get to understand the main players and what drives them.
Sylvia is affected deeply by past memories that people try to convince her are untrue and that she is a liar and a bad person.
Saul cannot remember much at all as he has dementia. Polar opposites and yet attracted to one another leaning on each others strengths, whilst supporting each others weaknesses.
It's a little insight into dealing with people with dementia, and a glimpse of how people with a traumatic background can suffer right through life.
It's the friends and family who have to stand by them in times of stress.
It's a very quiet film with little meaningful dialogue, and some scenes where you have to fill in the blanks for yourself so if you're not getting what the film is about, you'll probably dislike it intensely.
If you do understand the work, family and personal dynamics you'll probably stick with it and love it by the end despite it being a hard watch.
I do believe Jessica Chastain can take any role, any role at all and turn it into something beautiful.
Main drawback: big chunks of dialogue are muttered so you don't hear what's aid. Watch this film with subtitles or you miss nuances.
