Outside In

Lynn Shelton

USA, 2017, 109 minutes

In this new drama from Lynn Shelton, an intense bond forms between a woman in a troubled marriage (Edie Falco) and an ex-con (Jay Duplass) trying to readjust to life in his small town. After serving 20 years for a crime that spun out of his control, 38-year-old Chris (Duplass) is granted an early release thanks partly to the tireless advocacy of Carol (Falco), his former high-school teacher. As he struggles to adapt to the outside world, the digital age, and the challenges of finding employment as an ex-con, Chris confesses his romantic love for Carol—a love that, given her marital status, Carol cannot reciprocate. Or can she? Carol longs for something her husband no longer provides. Meanwhile, Carol's daughter, Hilde (Kaitlyn Dever) befriends Chris, finding in this awkward, tormented older guy a kindred spirit able to see her for who she believes she really is.—Various sources