John Sayles’ latest film is also his most environmental – a look at a small seaside Florida town where developers have squared off against the locals with talk of “restoring” the land back to a more “natural” form (with the requisite luxury homes). Richly textured, the film follows the personal trials of two women. Marly, played by the tough yet tender Edie Falco, understands the stakes of caving in to the developers and yet wants to escape. Angela Bassett plays Desiree, who left the island as a teenager in shame, but has returned as a successful professional to reconcile with her mother. Mixed into the tale are four golfers, a greek chorus of sorts who pontificate on alligators, swampland, and those pesky environmentalists. Sayles’ ideas are often big, and in this case, his characters are even bigger, offering up their hearts and working through their dreams against the backdrop of Plantation Island. Directed by John Sayles, 2002, USA, 141 min.

Cosponsored with the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.