To Leslie

Leslie won a large sum on the lottery in Texas. Six years on the money is gone, her son has cut her off, and she is moving between motels. She cannot stop drinking and nobody in town wants to see her. A motel manager gives her a job and a room. The subject is not addiction but how a second chance gets given. Sweeney trusts Leslie without asking her to explain herself, and the film shows how that could blow up at every stage. Leslie, for her part, does not know how to accept being forgiven. The form is small and direct: motel rooms, car parks, a bar. The camera rarely leaves her face. The film's awards story got more attention than the film. It took roughly twenty-seven thousand dollars worldwide, which is to say almost nobody saw it. Then a social media campaign started by names including Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Adams got Andrea Riseborough nominated for the best actress Oscar. The Academy reviewed the campaign methods, said some of the posts caused concern, and did not rescind the nomination. Michael Morris directs. Marc Maron plays the motel manager and Andre Royo someone from Leslie's circle. Who it is for: viewers who like hard American independent drama carried by one performance. Who it is not for: anyone wanting an easy recovery story; the film keeps taking its own progress back.