Paul Lamont, a corrections officer and law student, leads a comfortable if culturally bankrupt, middle-class existence. Lamont's marriage is already in trouble when he bails out a mysterious Haitian, Jean Baptiste, in the belief that Baptiste has been wrongly accused. Baptiste insinuates himself in Lamont's life and leads him on a journey of discovery. Lamont then finds that acts of conscience can have unforeseen consequences.
Acting
Esposito's unraveling — watch the eyes, always the eyes.
Direction
Brewster's patient, invasive close-ups that refuse comfort.
Writing
The script knows Lamont is the villain of his own story.
Director
Joe Brewster
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Isaach de Bankolé had already worked with Claire Denis; Brewster specifically sought that same unreadable intensity.
The film's obscurity speaks volumes: 1995 wasn't ready for a Black director making white liberalism the monster. It barely exists online.
US
