Watch Nights and Weekends

Nights and Weekends is a 2008 independent drama film that was directed by and starred Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig, who also helped with the screenplay. The movie is about the long-distance relationship between a couple, Matt (Swanberg) and James (Gerwig), who are struggling to maintain their connection despite living in different cities.

The film opens with Matt getting off a plane and arriving at James' New York City apartment, where he intends to spend the weekend with her. From the start, the tone of their relationship is ambiguous, as they seem to be both comfortable and awkward around each other. As they spend time together, they reveal both their physical and emotional vulnerabilities to each other.

As their weekend together comes to an end, the couple begins to have disagreements over everything from their sexual relationship to their future plans. While they both seem to want to make the relationship work, it is clear that they are struggling with the distance and the lack of intimacy that comes with not being in the same place.

The film then flips to a different perspective, as we see James in her home city of Chicago. She is dealing with both her jealousy over Matt's responsibilities back home and her own personal issues, including both her career and her relationship with her family. As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that the couple's inability to connect is not just due to their geographical separation but also their individual struggles with themselves.

Throughout the film, there are various scenes of the couple in both cities, showcasing their personal and professional lives. These alternate between flashbacks to when they first met and their interactions in the present, adding to the film's non-linear structure. The use of these scenes also serves to flesh out the characters, giving them depth beyond just their relationship.

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of Nights and Weekends is its realism. The movie does not shy away from portraying the awkwardness and discomfort that often come with maintaining long-distance relationships, nor the difficult moments that arise when two individuals with different backgrounds and experiences try to reconcile their differences. As a result, the film feels both authentic and relatable, making it all the more affective in its portrayal of the complexities of modern-day romance.

Overall, Nights and Weekends is a thought-provoking and intimate exploration of the difficulties of long-distance relationships. Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig, who also starred in Frances Ha, collaborate again to create a deeply moving and nuanced film that speaks to the heart of what it means to love and connect with another person in the modern world. If you're looking for a film that will make you think and feel, this is one to check out.

Nights and Weekends is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9 and a MetaScore of 59.