We jump into Emma and Owen's marriage by joining Emma and her lover in bed. It is their first time together and, while it is not what she had imagined, she does it anyway. From there we see her return home to her husband and four children. The distance between them is clear, although for Owen he doesn't seem to notice, and just goes along with his days. Emma though seems to hold a lot on herself.
Emma is played by Spanish actress Tamara Arias, and it is her performance that makes the film work. She is delicate throughout, capturing a sense of fear of everything and not knowing what she really wants. It feels like she has lost herself in the family, and is not sure how to get back to what she once had (or perceives that she had). Owen is played much duller, but he is not to blame either because the film is careful not to give out blame. Instead it allows them to both try and both fail, but ultimately give them hope together.
It is a simple set of scenes, but the structure works well (starting with the affair), and the performances make it work. Production standards are high, and it feels professional and warm. There was a lot of chance for cliché in this story, but the look and feel of the film, combined with the strong lead performance, make sure it is much more heartfelt than that.
