Revealing the extent of a relationship’s strength and the willingness to confirm what the extent of your love is has been explored in the past, notably with the Hollywood works of director Adrian Lyne in his trilogy of dramas FATAL ATTRACTION, INDECENT PROPOSAL and UNFAITHFUL.
Each film focuses on the deeper complexities of what love and passion can unleash in terms of true desire and temptation and in writer/director Merland Hoxha’s on-demand release THE DEPARTURE, the seeming simplicity of keeping a truly passionate relationship moving on to the next level are not as straightforward.
For LA-based loved-up couple Nate (Grant Gunderson) and Jessica (Kendall Chappell), it is that moment of added commitment when they decide to move in together when all is good in the world.
However, Nate is doing a little too well, so much so that his boss Bruce (Jon Briddell) has recommended him for the company’s New York office which has recently undergone a structural review with a problematic manager that Nate is scheduled to replace to bring the East Coast branch up to scratch. The job is for six months, with the option of coming back West to continue Nate’s good work locally.
Meanwhile, Nate’s best friend John (Austin Lauer) has hooked up with Amber (Olivia Lemmon) and has found those early first dates awkward. He’s a reasonable guy and a good friend to Nate, but he is taken aback when Nate asks him to seduce Jessica to test her loyalty whilst he is in New York. Complicating matters further is the knowledge that Nate’s ex Erica is in the Big Apple pursuing her dream of acting on Broadway.
The scene is set for John to carry out, albeit reluctantly, Nate’s wishes but as is so often the case, the complex honesty and tough questions are about to find their way into the inbox of romance….
On the one level, THE DEPARTURE does have a lead into the deeper questions that couples who are committed to asking of themselves in terms of bond and direction their relationship is going and perhaps it will finds an audience in those long-term couples looking for something to empathise with.
The main issue is that all the key characters in this film clearly are not as committed as they should be and actually deserve to be on their own. The lead character, Nate, appears to be very insecure and uncertain of his own real desire, whilst John is probably not the right person to carry out the act that is required of him, resulting in a very messed-up friendship and approach to relationships.
That said, the cast is perfect in their performances, which is probably what makes the film a slightly more discomforting experience and if you are watching this as a loved-up committed or long-term married couple, you will probably be breathing a sigh of relief that your own is not like this.
Not destined to hit the heights of FATAL ATTRACTION or INDECENT PROPOSAL, THE DEPARTURE does at least try to focus on the bigger issues and questions in all relationships.
