Here is a short little review I've written, not at all complete, but I hope it gives some viewers an idea of how wonderful this film was:
What "A Quiet Little Marriage" lacks in star power or sheen, it makes up for with raw, unabashed honesty and truthfulness. Although many early write-ups for the film have compared it to the early works of John Cassavetes (probably because of the filmmaker and actors independent spirit regarding the project
) it seems more akin to a great short story by Richard Yates or John Updike or Raymond Carver.
Cy Carter is the stand out performance as Dax, the husband with a family history of drug and alcohol abuse, who wants nothing to do with having a child. He plays the reluctant, but supportive husband with a great stillness. And like the characters in Carver's short stories it is what Dax doesn't say that means more to the story, than what he actually says.
Mary-Elizabeth Ellis (Always Sunny In Philadelphia) gives a very solid performance as Olive, Dax's wife, as well. Jimmie Simpson and Charlie Day (also from Sunny) add some comic relief.
The writer/director, Mo Perkins, never delves into the melodrama like some less nuanced filmmakers might and instead approaches her characters with compassion up until the very end of the film.
Overall, this film has a great heart. The characters, the scenes, the situations, the pacing, all feel like lives very close to ours or someone we know. "Marriage" is a simple, quiet little film about love, a rare honest portrayal of the institute of the American marriage, and a testament to independent film-making still existing.
