Twenty-four years ago, a teacher (Julianne Moore) had a relationship with a 13 year-old boy (played by Charles Melton as an adult). Despite the tabloid horrors, they’re still together with several kids. Natalie Portman plays a TV actor who’s doing research for the role, so she travels to Savannah to meet them. Director Todd Haynes has created an uncomfortable mix of situations that examine dysfunctional relationships and set up unfulfilled expectations. The scenes sometime approach depth, but often stop before any revelations. The melodramatic soundtrack (an adaptation of Michel Legrand’s music for The Go-Between) signals dramatic portent, sometimes as comically absurd punctuation. The interesting performances and shift in tones keep the film interesting, but ultimately it leaves lots of open-ended moments. 
(3 / 5)