Winner of the US Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing, Ponsoldt’s second feature looks quietly at the implications of alcoholism on a young couple’s marriage, merging humour and empathy with a sense of deep regret as schoolteacher Kate’s (Winstead) decision to go clean has a knock-on effect on those around her. Ponsoldt discretely keeps melodrama at bay whilst a largely handheld camera captures states of imbalance.
Smashed | Directed by James Ponsoldt (USA 2012) with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman. Starts May 9