The minor key romance “Alone Together” is a modest affair, one that credibly depicts the kinds of relationship conversations many people faced at the start of the pandemic. Its simplicity and lack of cinematic fantasy strike a tone of surprising relief.
The film, written and directed by Katie Holmes, who also stars in it, follows two strangers who fall in love after they both booked into the same Airbnb in March 2020.
June (Holmes) plans to weather the early days of the pandemic upstate with her boyfriend, John (Derek Luke). But his plans are thwarted when John chooses to stay at his home in New York. His hopes for a quiet retirement hit another roadblock upon his arrival: the rental house turns out to be occupied by another traveler, Charlie (Jim Sturgess).
The two characters are initially bored to meet. But getting together during a time of global isolation provides a reason to connect. The attraction quickly develops and the characters fall in love as they discuss how the pandemic has changed their life plans.
The film’s strongest appeal lies in the resonance between what the characters experience and what the world looks like now. But Holmes also finds notes of grace as a director. She sets painterly angles for upstate interiors and keeps the mood soft, allowing her characters to converse without inducing laughter or sentimental theatrics. His film is a quiet achievement: a film that does not run away from reality.
alone together
Rated R for language and brief nudity. Duration: 1h33. In theaters.
