MichaelShannondirectsanadaptationofBrettNeveu’s2002playaboutamothercopingwiththefalloutafterhersonmurdersthreeofhishighschoolclassmates.Janice(JudyGreer)isstruggling;shemovesthroughlifeasifinahaze,unabletoletgoofherangerandfrustration.Whileherhusband(AlexanderSkarsgård)hasfoundrefugeatanewchurch,Janicefindsithardtoseeksolaceinherfaithdespiteherpastor’spleastohealherwoundsbymeetingwiththemothersofherson’svictims.AsJaniceponderswhatthatmeetingcouldachieveforherandhercommunity,EricLaRueasksaudiencestowitnessthefrayedemotionalripplesthatviolentactscanengender.
AnchoredbyGreer’sdeeplyarrestingperformance,Shannon’sdirectorialdebutgrappleshead-onwithfrustratinglytimelyconversationsaboutwhodeservesourcompassionandgrace.StandoutsupportingturnsbyTracyLettsandAlisonPill,whocaptureasubtlyunnervingvisionofspiritualfanaticism,stressthefilm'sinterestincomplicatingfacileviewsofatonementandforgivenessinlightofsuchtragedies.
