WHEN THIS ALL ENDS

Two sisters watch a guest. A listless writer has arrived at a vacation home in upstate New York, in hopes of igniting a creative spark and getting some work done on a project. The home isn't his: it belongs to another family, including two sisters, Tess and Gia, who watch as James settles in for his mini-retreat. As James procrastinates, watches TV and occasionally pecks away at his computer, romantic Tess begins to fall in love with him. But Gia has seen it all before and must remind her sister why there's no chance of success when it comes to romance. And in doing so, they pontificate on the lives they could have led if things were different and slowly come to accept the truth of what's in front of them. Directed by Jordan Sommerlad and written by Cory Stonebrook (who also appears in the role of James), this short drama is a lovely portrait of two sisters who are also each other's closest companions, with all the intimacy and difficulty that implies. It's also a gently philosophical meditation on the life unlived, full of what-ifs and could-have-beens, handled with both wit and a heart-tugging wistfulness. Shot with a naturalism that's both subtle and delicate, the film has an ambling, sometimes contemplative pace, unfurling its circumstances and characters with an unhurried gentleness. But the storytelling is not without its spark or rhythm, thanks to the loving but sometimes acerbic relationship between the sisters. They have different personalities and temperaments -- Gia is sharp and cynical while Tess is dreamier and romantic -- and they spar and snark with one another as siblings often do. But they are close, and in many ways, they have no choice but to be best friends. The thoughtful writing reveals exactly who Gia and Tess are, but the revelation isn't handled as a clever "a-ha" moment that jolts the viewer. Instead, it allows it to unfold more quietly. The crux of the story is their one-sided relationship with the new occupant of their home, which offers Tess an outlet for romantic yearning. But it also offers a somewhat painful opportunity to reflect on the destinies, paths and people that they'll never get to experience. Actors Lizzy Miller and Tiffany Trainor as Tess and Gia, respectively, have a sometimes spiky rapport that's believable between two siblings, and their different characters and perspectives rub up against each other to provide tension. And yet as they watch James live his life -- whose private quirks provide some gentle levity at times -- they also come to some kind of peace at where they are right now. The process of reconciling themselves to their fates forms the arc of WHEN THIS ALL ENDS, and the evocation of how an unlived life or fate can tug and haunt someone is relatable to anyone who has ever wondered about the roads they never traveled or the doors they've closed as they've embraced other choices in life. But Tess and Gia also learn to find comfort that they have a companion in one another -- someone who loves and wants the best for them. Realizing what love is right in front of you helps them accept the imperfection of their existence -- and perhaps even see how it makes life uniquely beautiful. WHEN THIS ALL ENDS. Courtesy of Jordan Sommerlad at https://jordansommerlad.com.