Watch Union

Union is a slow-burn indie drama film that explores the intertwined lives of three individuals from vastly different backgrounds who are brought together by the common purpose of seeking change. The movie is set in a small rural town in the southern United States, where mainly white locals live in relative isolation apart from the occasional interaction with a handful of people of color.

The central character is Grace, a young woman played by Virginia Newcomb, who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her brother and the breakdown of her marriage. Her brother died while serving in the US military in Afghanistan, and her husband left her shortly after that. Grace spends most of her days drinking in her rundown trailer home and trying to numb her pain with casual sex.

The second main character is a black single mother named Jasmine, played by Cece Kelly, who works as a nurse at the local hospital. Her son, James, is diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, and Jasmine struggles to keep him healthy while also caring for her aging mother, who suffers from dementia. Jasmine is fiercely independent and unafraid to speak her mind, which often leads to confrontations with the white locals who view her as an outsider.

The third character is a white Vietnam War veteran named Bob, played by Jay Galloway, who has spent the last few decades living as a recluse in the woods outside of town. Bob is haunted by his memories of the war and has a deep mistrust of authority and society at large. He spends his days hunting and fishing and avoiding any kind of human interaction.

The three characters' paths cross when Jasmine's son James is admitted to the hospital where Grace works as a nurse. Grace is immediately drawn to Jasmine and her son and begins to form a bond with them. Meanwhile, Bob is drawn out of his isolation by the sight of Jasmine and her son walking through the woods near his home.

As the story unfolds, we see these characters wrestling with their inner demons and trying to find a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives. Grace begins to see that there is more to life than the numbness she has been feeling, and she starts to take tentative steps towards healing and moving forward. Jasmine learns to rely on the help of others and comes to understand that despite their differences, there is more that unites people than divides them. Bob is forced to confront his mistrust of society and come to terms with his own past trauma.

Union is a character-driven film that relies on nuanced performances from its lead actors to tell its story. Virginia Newcomb, Cece Kelly, and Jay Galloway all deliver strong performances, bringing depth and complexity to their characters. The movie is beautifully shot, with the rural landscape serving as a backdrop to the characters' struggles. The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing the audience to fully immerse themselves in the world of the film and to feel the weight of the characters' pain and uncertainty.

Overall, Union is a poignant and thought-provoking movie that explores themes of grief, trauma, and redemption. It offers a nuanced and empathetic portrayal of characters who are often overlooked in mainstream cinema, and it challenges viewers to reflect on their own biases and assumptions. Although it may not be a film for everyone, those who appreciate slow-burn dramas that prioritize character development over plot will find much to enjoy in Union.

Union is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.5.