Lovesong

Longing looks never seemed more painful than in Lovesong, an unusual relationship drama about two women whose deep yearning for one another is inhibited not so much by external pressures as by their own inability to say and do what is in their hearts. Actresses Riley Keough and Jena Malone are deeply effective as old friends whose lives intersect a second time when Sarah (Keough) senses that her marriage is evaporating, leaving her to raise a young daughter alone. Nights of nostalgia with Mindy (Malone) lead to looks, embraces, and kisses, and beyond—to the sense of a palpable, enduring bond between the two that has always been there and always will be. But a failure to acknowledge the truth and take their relationship to the next level makes it too easy for Sarah and Mindy to separate, which is what happens until they meet again three years later on the eve of Mindy's half-hearted wedding. Filmmaker So Yong Kim again places the two characters in scenes that will easily change the course of their lives if the right words are spoken. Also featuring a brief appearance by Rosanna Arquette as Mindy's mother, this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an interview with filmmakers So Yong Kim and Bradley Rust Gray (12 min.). Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine drama.] (T. Keogh)