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Oct 18, 2016 By Zach Hollwedel Web Exclusive

Jim and Amanda were more than lovers in high school – they were one another’s future. Their bond transcended puppy love and first crushes. It was deep, genuine, and resonated far more permanently than either of them was prepared for. And it all comes gushing back to the surface when the two bump into one another at a supermarket in their small, quiet hometown two decades after they last saw one another.

Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson share a palpable chemistry as the former paramours. Their way is natural, grounded, and unflinchingly human. Duplass’ touching script gives the couple the time they need to reconnect and evolve, to become wholly relatable and endearing characters. The life he manages to give them in just 80-minutes is nothing short of masterful. Sure, they have some quirks, some gimmicks that are a little hard to buy into, but the talented actors commit, breathing refreshing life into Jim and Amanda that makes it all but impossible to not fall in love with them.

Equally as impressive as the performances, however, is first-time feature director Alexandre Lehmann’s prowess behind the camera. The career cinematographer shot the film entirely in black and white, which adds an intimacy to the story that color might not have been able to deliver as effectively. (Paulson is particularly stunning and her performance expertly nuanced when captured in gray-scale.) With obvious comparisons to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunset and Before Sunrise – two characters connecting over a finite period of time – the largely dialogue-centric film demanded the vision of an astute helmer to keep it engaging and well paced. Lehmann commandingly shepherds the film, executing a cinematic calling card that should have producers and talent lining up to plant him once again in the director’s chair.

www.tiff.net/films/blue-jay

Author rating: 7/10