Marion Bridge

'Marion Bridge' begins with 30-something Agnes waiting in a Nova Scotia airport bar for her sister Theresa's arrival on a flight from Toronto. After catching sight of a security guard, Agnes decides against lighting a cigarette. Later, after the two women greet each other with noticeable coolness, she declines to finish her drink, and comments tartly on the size of her sister's suitcase. Theresa makes a defensive response, and then laboriously hefts the oversize case through the airport instead of using its wheels.

This nuanced prologue telegraphs some prickly family dynamics, and sets the tone for the remainder of the film. On arrival at the family home, where a third sister also resides, the reason for Agnes' return soon becomes apparent: the siblings' mother is dying of cancer at the local hospital. As the story unfolds, family secrets are gradually illuminated by a smart, sensitive script which appears to have inspired exceptional performances from both cast and crew. The mystery of 'Marion Bridge' is revealed without theatrics, until it arrives at a final act which is as elegantly understated as the opening sequence - except that it has the effect of a punch to the gut.