Bereft is a 2004 American television drama film written by Peter Ferland and directed by Tim Daly and J. Clark Mathis. It marked Tim Daly's directorial debut. The film stars Vinessa Shaw, Michael C. Hall, Tim Blake Nelson, Marsha Mason, and Edward Herrmann.
Plot
Set in rural Vermont, the story follows Molly (Vinessa Shaw), a young widow struggling to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. She obsesses over the remnants of his life and believes his spirit still inhabits their home, though her attempts to photograph the ghost prove unsuccessful. Molly works at a photo shop, where her manager pressures her to remarry. She remains emotionally withdrawn until she befriends an uncouth neighbor (Tim Blake Nelson), who gradually draws her out of her isolation and inspires a newfound daring and impulsiveness.
Cast
- Vinessa Shaw as Molly
- Tim Blake Nelson as Denis
- Tim Daly as Uncle "Happy"
- Amy Van Nostrand as Jodi
- Edward Herrmann as Lloyd
- Sam Daly as Kenny
- Patrick Burleigh as Joel
- Marsha Mason as Helen
- Ari Graynor as Louise
- Michael C. Hall as Jonathan
Production
The film was produced by Tim Daly and Stephen Burleigh. The theme music was composed by Mark Snow. It was released in the United States on October 20, 2004, with a runtime of 98 minutes, and was distributed by Bereft LLC. The film was also released under the alternative title Love Again.
Reception
Bereft screened at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles on November 13, 2004, as part of the Showtime Independent Films lineup. Ronnie Scheib of Variety reviewed the film in June 2004.
