Year By the Sea by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Year ByThe Sea opens with home films of special events in the lives of two young brothers as they were growing up.  In the next scene, we see Joan Alexander (Karen Allen), the boys’ middle-aged mother, preparing breakfast for her two boys, who are now adults.  Years have passed and the boys no longer live with their parents, but have come home for their elder son’s wedding.

            At the wedding, Joan discovers that her husband Robin (Michael Christopher) is being transferred to Kansas and putting their house up for sale.  She cannot believe that all this was planned without telling her and she is first learning of it at their son’s wedding.  Joan and Robin have been married for thirty years, but since the boys have grown up and left, something seems to be missing in their marriage and she is hurt and angry.  When the time comes to pack up and leave, Joan puts her luggage in a separate car as she made a decision not to go to Kansas with Robin, but to go away on her own to find a new adventure in Cape Cod. 

            When Jane arrives in Cape Cod alone, she begins to feel remorse about her decision.   But soon that feeling fades after discovering the beauty of her surroundings, and the warmth and friendliness of the people she meets.  She finds strength in her decision through the support of her long-time friend and literary agent Liz (S. Epatha Merkerson) as well as her new-found friend, Joan Erikson (Celia Imrie), a free- spirited lady who has much in common with her.  Looking for something to keep occupied, Joan applies for a help-wanted ad on the window of a store run by John Cahoon (Yannick Bisson), a fisherman who befriends her as well.Her life takes on a new meaning with positive relationships, enjoying fun times, living with nature and beauty, and knowing she is still capable of enjoying life, no matter how old she is.

            Year By The Sea was written, directed and composed by Alexander Janko.  It is based on the true story and New York Best Selling Book by Joan Anderson about the time she took a year from her normal life to, as expressed by the film maker, …”embark upon a journey of self discovery.”

            Karen Allen is glowing as Joan, and the entire cast brings life to all of the people they represent.   The scenes of the nature and beauty of Cape Cod are wonderful to see,

           

Year By The Sea at The Laemmle Royal, Townhouse Center, Playhouse 7

Not rated, in English, 114 minutes

National release to follow