Helena from the Wedding

Plot Summary

The presence of an attractive single woman adds to the tension between several unhappily married couples in this independent drama. Alex (Lee Tergesen) and Alice (Melanie Lynskey), a newly married couple in their mid-thirties, have invited some friends to a cottage in upstate New York to celebrate New Year's Eve. Alex isn't feeling especially celebratory, however, as his career as a writer has hit a skid and he's feeling uneasy about his relationship with Alice. His misgivings grow as he spends time with Don (Dominic Fumusa) and Lynn (Jessica Hecht). Don and Lynn are also married, yet Lynn makes no secret of her low regard for Don, whose spirit seems to have been crushed by her incessant demands. A third couple attending the party, Eve (Dagmara Dominczyk) and Steven (Corey Stoll), are also experiencing some trouble: Eve is expecting a baby, but also has reason to believe Steven is cheating on her. Eve and Steven have brought a friend along for the party, Helena (Gillian Jacobs), an attractive model younger than the rest of the guests. Nick (Paul Fitzgerald), the only single man in attendance, is clearly attracted to Helena, but Alex, who met her several months before, is also infatuated with her, adding further friction to his relationship with Alice. The first feature film from director Joseph Infantolino, HELENA FROM THE WEDDING received its world premiere at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival.