We’ve all been there. There has been some point in our ’20s or ’30s when we realize that life has been passing us by. Through it all, we’ve just been going along for the ride. In Drake Doremus’ latest film–Endings, Beginnings, Shailene Woodley stars as Daphne, a 30-something woman who hurls the grenade right into the middle of her life.
In the space of a week–Daphne quits the job that she loves, breaks up with her loving boyfriend and moves into her older sister’s (Lindsay Sloane) pool house. The only one that seems to be thrilled by her presence is her young niece. Determined to get her life in some semblance of order–Daphne swears off men and alcohol for six months. However, as well all know-when we try to banish the things that trigger us, they seem to appear in the most fascinating packages.
From the moment the film opens, something is clearly haunting Daphne. Doremus gives his audiences rapid flashbacks of some horrific event in the near distance that she refuses to dwell on. Instead–Daphne’s focus shifts towards two men–Frank (Sebastian Stan), a rugged bad-boy that appears at her sister’s New Year Eve’s party–manifesting like a phantom out of some romance novel. Intriguing and kind of off-putting, Daphne can’t help but be swept up in Frank’s hurricane. It’s interesting that she seems to know from the outset that she’s going to be pulverized when all is said and done. Yet, against her better judgment, she forges ahead.
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Image: Toronto International Film Festival.