Who is popular today?

Unconvincing dialogue mars this cleverly shot romance, with a star turn by Tatiana Maslany
Welsh actor Tom Cullen (Weekend, Downton Abbey) writes and directs this nonlinear romantic drama, which stars his real-life partner, Tatiana Maslany (of BBC America’s Orphan Black). Jenna (Maslany) and Leon (Jay Duplass) are North American expats living in Wales; the film charts the ups and downs of their six-year relationship, shuffling its chronology but returning on repeat occasions to the night they met. She’s a film producer, he’s a DJ/photographer; they amble through parks and attend dinner parties, have topical discussions about the power dynamics of open relationships and whether Jenna would be a good mother. Your response to their world will dictate your feelings about the film.
Cullen creates opportunities for his characters to discuss gender politics, ambition and insecurity, but these tangled conversations feel abstract. The semi-improvisational dialogue is more believable in scenes that focus on the chemistry between Jenna and Leon. Continue reading...