30 Second Bottom Line: "Treading Water" lives up to its title. Rather than really taking a chance on expressing the fears and hopes of its characters (a lesbian couple and the family of one of them), it just tries to stay afloat.

Story Line: In "Treading Water," Casey (Angie Redman), a longshore worker, lives on a boat with her partner, Alex (Nina Landey). The lesbian lovers live across the lake from Casey's family. The film begins as Christmas Eve approaches. Casey's Mom (Annette Miller) refuses to invite Alex to their Christmas Eve party, or to Christmas dinner.

Meanwhile, Alex has a dilemma of her own. She has been counseling Casey's youngest brother, Andrew, for drug dealing and dependency, without telling Casey or Andrew her connection to either. The secret will be difficult to keep, when Casey and Alex pick up Andrew from the train station on his return from college.

Casey's other brother, Shawn (Robert Harte), isn't without demons of his own. He is introduced developing pictures in his dark room, remembering an old friend, Derek, whose relationship to the family's past will be revealed in the film's anti-climax. The Mom of the family does everything she can to keep all secrets bottled up, but will her family sink or swim because of it?

Tell Me More About It: "When all is said and done, you have your family," explains Casey. "But do I?" We all, including the audience, have to ask that question constantly during the few days covered by "Treading Water." The family fails to deal with each of its problems. Consequently, the drama of "Treading Water" is in experiencing the discomfort between family members, lovers, and friends.

Each character struggles to overcome his/her past to get on with the future. Screenwriter Julia Hollinger and director Lauren Himmel suggest that such changes cannot be made alone. Family is an integral part of both the past and the future for everyone. Although it could have been handled more rigorously and with greater insight, the contrast between the partnership of Casey and Alex and Casey's conventionally dysfunctional family introduces thoughts on how each kind of family can learn from the other.

"We are dealing with this in our own way," one of Casey's clan defiantly claims. Of course, "our own way" means not dealing with things at all, keeping things quiet. You know: don't create waves. In her relationship with Casey, Alex does let things get choppy. For example, she eventually confesses her relationship to Casey's brother Andrew. The ensuing argument is the sort of thing Casey's family always tries to avoid. However, through the hurt, Casey and Alex become stronger. Meanwhile, at Christmas dinner (sans the uninvited Alex), the submerged tensions in Casey's family may no longer be contained.

Unfortunately, for all the discomfort acted out, there's not much intensity - no sense of irrepressible emotions - hurt or guilt or even love. The interactions between characters and actors never resonate with the audience. Screenwriter Hollinger doesn't provide a coherent enough structure - character revelations are introduced awkwardly. Director Himmel never uses the camera or editing or staging for expressive purposes. She seems to just put the camera down where it can record the most action, rather than to heighten or elaborate on the emotions bubbling beneath each scene.

It is essential that a movie dealing with these concerns have the kind of emotional connection between artist, character, and audience that "Treading Water" lacks. Andrew confesses to Alex about his drug dealing, "That's not the `me' I wanna be." It's an astonishing statement because it shows that the actor and the writer are open to the experiences of all kinds of flawed people. However, without a style that does their emotions and their lives justice, Himmel can't bridge the gap to her audience. It's basically the same bridge her characters desperately wish to cross. Himmel, like her characters in the disarmingly unresolved ending, is too afraid to swim for fear of sinking. The movie is just treading water.

Casey: Angie Redman	Shawn: Robert Harte
Alex: Nina Landey	Mom: Annette Miller
Carmen: Lysa Apostle	Directed by: Lauren Himmel