Steam

(USA, 2008, 117 mins)

Video

NYC Premiere

Directed By: Kyle Schickner

Steam tells the stories of three very different women, at three different stages of life, who are linked only by the steam room of their local gym, where they go to escape their everyday lives. Single mom Laurie (a commanding Ally Sheedy) is still being manipulated by her slimy ex-husband. Doris (the mesmerizing Ruby Dee, Oscar-nominated for American Gangster), a recent widow, can no longer find much to live for, and is becoming increasingly isolated. Elizabeth (impressive newcomer Kate Siegel), a college freshman, is caught in her emotionless parents’ controlling grip. Initially, each woman seems impossibly stuck. But, suddenly, they reach a turning point, and a new relationship opens up unanticipated opportunities for change. Laurie, encouraged by her acerbic best friend, Jacky (Chelsea Handler, from TV’s Chelsea Lately), returns the attention of her son’s attractive, and much younger, football coach, Roy. Doris finds a companion in August, a charmer who wears down the walls she’s built up and reminds her that she’s still alive, even if her husband is not. Elizabeth experiences an awakening as she comes to terms with her sexuality when she meets the beautiful and politically active Niala. But when obstacles arise, can all three women discover the hidden strength within themselves to move forward, or will they instead retreat to the familiarity and safety of their old habits? In Steam, Kyle Schickner, whose Strange Fruit won Best Narrative Feature in NewFest 2005, has crafted an exceptional film featuring three exceptional actresses who illuminate the screen with their strength and talent.

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