the little things

Brilliantly alternating between the blissful early moments of a budding relationship and the less savory state of mind that accompanies the temptation of infidelity, The Little Things is a romantically-charged meditation on the challenges of modern love that wonderfully captures the intimacy of casual social exchanges. Workplace acquaintances Michael and Miranda are two otherwise-committed individuals whose mutual attraction and undeniable chemistry peak at the same complicated moment when their existing relationships hit impasses. Coasting through closeness comes to a head when they realize that the nightly chore of re-parking the car has become an excuse to spend two minutes together, and menial office work serves as a giddily flirtatious escape. "We're at the point in our relationship where if we were in a real relationship we'd be spending all our free time together," Miranda and Michael admit, and it is with just such a balance of observation and rich, understated dialogue that the film negotiates its characters' motivations and judgment. Charting romantic territory with the passionate urgency of the Before Sunrise/Sunset films and the intimate energy of Charlotte Sometimes, newcomer Stephen Padilla charges his tender exploration of complicated relationships with a fond appreciation for the little things. Audience Award Winner: 2006 Red Bank International Film Festival