by Francisco Salazar
On the heels of 2011's "Melancholia," a dark and fatalistic approach to the end of the world, Lorene Scfaria brings together for her first feature a tender, charming and bittersweet dramedy about two people meeting at the end of the world. The film which stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley tells the story of Dodge (Carell), an insurance broker who finds himself alone after his wife leaves in a panic. After meeting his neighbor Penny (Knightley), he decides to take a road trip to reunite with his high school sweetheart. However his plans are changed as he becomes involved with Penny.
The film deals with the theme of reconnecting with humanity. Both Penny and Dodge seek human connection as they have always lived unattached from society. On the one hand Dodge has always lived in function of his work and with an unhappy wife who cheated on him. He no longer has any connection with his mother and he has not seen or forgiven his father in 25 years. As a result he wants to be able to see his high school sweetheart Olivia, "the love of his life". On the other Penny also lives disconnected as she has always chosen boyfriends over family. She seeks to go back home and see her family in England before its to late.
