Signs of Love

"Signs of Love" is what we once called a kitchen-sink drama. The remnants of a dysfunctional family struggling to get by in Philadelphia. The characters seem to have largely accepted that MAGA was always just a cruel lie and have come to terms with that. No way out, no hope eternally springing.

It's a pretty bleak story, but Rosanna Arquette brings some much-needed warmth in a minor role. She can play these parts in her sleep, but it's always good to see her.

I did find it difficult to accept that Jane (Zoë Bleu) would want to spend much time with a scrawny loser like Frankie (Hopper Penn).

Sometimes patchy, the film has heart and Zoë Bleu in particular shines.

The film really feels like we're experiencing the real day to day lives of Frankie and his family and friends.

The actors playing Frankie and his sister did well considering who they are related to, and the actual lives they would have lived growing up. Same goes for the performance from the girl playing Jane. The made the characters feel so real, despite barely being like them.

It's a typical poor meets rich story. Frankie being poor from a rough background, and Jane being from a rich background. She definitely seems to think Frankie's life is full of freedom, while Frankie sees the better qualities of her life.

The heartache of the story is Frankie's nephew Sean, and how he is just the light of a family lost in darkness.

Overall the film captures why escaping poverty is hard and how addiction and drugs can destroy lives.