A Quietly Affecting Romantic Drama That Kept Me At A Distance

You & I,
the new movie from longtime independent film producer Summer Shelton, has a simple and familiar premise: Two former lovers unexpectedly cross paths years after they split, and over the course of several emotional conversations, gradually reconnect. It’s a straightforward affair, and one we’ve all seen play out countless times before. To her credit, Shelton, who directed and wrote the movie in addition to starring, offers some unique touches to the tale of Sara (Shelton) and Joseph (Clayne Crawford).

At the same time, I found myself mostly unmoved by the time the end credits began to roll. It feels like You & I is missing some pieces, and it isn’t helped by an ending sequence that goes on for far too long. This stripped-down production has many things working in its favor, and thus plenty to admire, but I’m sad to say it didn’t fully win me over.

You & I Is All About Two Lovers Reconnecting

We gradually learn their story piece by piece

You & I begins with Sara returning to her former home in Knoxville, Tennessee, for her friend Misty’s (Ashley Shelton) birthday. There, she runs into Joseph, her former flame who just so happens to be good friends with Misty’s husband (Linds Edwards). Though Sara tries to keep her distance, Joseph keeps trying to reestablish contact, and it isn’t long before the two are catching up in his kitchen, the space between them growing increasingly smaller.

In the press notes, Shelton explains that she tried to limit the locations and scenes used to keep the movie’s budget down. Considering those constraints, it is impressive what she accomplishes. Joseph’s secluded home is suitably cozy, easily giving the impression of a hideaway from the rest of the world. That is largely where Sara and Joseph air out their past, which comes to us in bursts of information. For some time, we’re left to piece together the truth of what happened between them, and Shelton smartly gives away new details in the most tantalizing of ways.

You & I Holds Us At A Distance

It Kept Me From Being Fully Invested

During the most emotional parts of Sara and Joseph’s conversation, the camera is kept at a distance, at times partially obscured behind the corner, as if we are literally peering in on a private moment. This results in two outcomes. It highlights the intimacy between the couple, and how private this moment truly is, but we are held at a distance, watching from far away enough that we can’t feel the push and pull between them. Though Shelton doesn’t always stage their scenes like this, it’s done enough that there is a clear barrier between us and the characters.

Because of this, and a limited perspective on Sara and Joseph’s lives outside their former relationship, I too felt a distance from You & I. We’re given small glimpses of their professions and their relationships with their friends, but these scenes ultimately don’t provide much insight that shades in the world Shelton has created. The romance movie plays out in a straightforward manner, from Sara and Joseph’s reunion to their relationship reckoning, to finally their last night together. Beyond their talk at Joseph’s house, the two meet once more to fully lay their feelings bare.

This was where I found myself fully separate from You & I, and to dig too far into the specifics would run the risk of completely ruining the ending. What I can say is that Shelton, who also edited the movie, clearly strove to emphasize the passion and love Sara and Joseph feel for each other.

A mostly wordless sequence where the two prepare for the day ahead together is a quietly affecting moment. However, it’s overshadowed by a drawn-out conclusion that keeps hitting the same beats over and over, to the point where it diminishes the emotion. There are flashes of cleverness here, but they are concealed by the arms-length approach.

You & I releases in Los Angeles on Friday, October 18. It is 83 minutes long and not yet rated.

5/10

You & I, directed by Summer Shelton, follows former flames Sara and Joseph as they reunite for a weekend encounter. The film explores the possibilities and unanswered questions in their relationship, delving into the complex emotions surrounding the path not taken with “the one that got away.”

Pros

• Summer Shelton and Clayne Crawford are good together
• The film has flashes of clever storytelling and editing

Cons

• You & I keeps audiences at a distance
• The film’s conclusion is too drawn out and undermines the emotion