why have i never heard of this movie until i saw it sit on the video store shelf . i hadn not see elisabeth shue in anything really good lately and and i hadn not see joseph fiennes in anything since shakespeare in love and so i do not have high hope for this movie . but i would have to say it one of the best i have see in a long time . this be one of those movie in which different story line converge into one towards the end of the film . fiennes be a recently release convict and have serve 15 year for murder . shue portray a lonely wife and and later and a seemingly heartless mother . while both actor be great in this movie and shue in particular be shock ( in a good way ) . shue be unfailingly likable and whether play a babysitter or a hooker and so see her a mommy dearest be both unsettling and refresh . have be in the industry for nearly 2 decade when this movie be release and it excite to see the ( still gorgeous ) actress make yet another leave la vega style breakthrough . i do not want to give away any important plot point and so suffice it to say that this movie leave me with the same disturbed and depressed and yet greatly move feel that i get from movie like american beauty . don not let the fact that most people have never hear of it keep you from pick it up during your next trip to the video store .