Afterglow

When the lives of two unhappily married couples intertwine, the result is chaos. This convoluted, episodic comedy-drama from Robert Altman-protege and long-time associate Alan Rudolph follows their mutual journey. The union between Lucky "Fix-It" Mann (Nick Nolte) and his beautiful wife Phyllis (Julie Christie) has never been the same since the night their daughter overheard a particularly bitter argument between them and fled the house forever. A former low-budget movie actress, Phyllis is depressed and spends much of her time gazing wistfully at her old films and mooning over her happy past. She and Lucky haven't touched each other in ages. The same holds true for fast-track corporate executive Jeffrey Byron (Jonny Lee Miller and his wife Marianne (Lara Flynn Boyle). Marianne desperately wants children and needs affection, but the job-obsessed Jeffrey refuses to satisfy her. The two live in a fabulously appointed duplex. One day they hire a handyman to make routine repairs and in walks handsome Lucky. Marianne is instantly attracted to him and they begin a passionate affair. Meanwhile, Jeffrey meets the worldly Phyllis and they too begin an adulterous tango. The illicit love stories crisscross for a time but reach their denouement when all four accidentally meet in a posh Montreal hotel bar.