A family tragedy changed the lives of the Winters family. When we meet them, Jim, a landscape gardener, and his two children, Gabe and Pete, have not gotten over the death of the woman who held this family together. At this juncture of their lives, they appear resigned with what happened to them. The somewhat quiet family atmosphere is going to be suddenly changed.Jim, the father, who has not seen another woman since his wife's death, is suddenly awakened from his lethargy with the arrival of a well meaning woman who is house sitting for friends in the neighborhood. Molly is a fine listener; she hears what Jim has to tell her, as he opens to recount the anguish, he and his children, have been living.Gabe, the older son, is seeing Stacey, a lovely young woman who loves him in return. It comes as a shock when Gabe informs his father and brother he is moving to Tampa. Jim's immediate reaction is to ask "What about Stacey", to which he responds "I'm dealing with it". Gabe wants to leave the oppressive home atmosphere to re-start his life in a new area. His brother Peter, who was with his mother when the accident happened, can't express his feelings; he has kept his emotions bottled inside him. He is a bright young man, but does poorly in school, something one of his teachers, tries to get him to respond and participate in class.Josh Sternfeld created a sensitive and beautifully restrained film that shows that not all in life is rosy and that people suffer when tragedy strikes. The director, who also wrote the screen play, knows this family well. Not everything is gloom and doom because we realize, as we watch, things will improve, especially for Jim, who is attracted by a woman who clearly understands his situation.Anthony LaPaglia, who is also credited as one of the producers, shows he was the right actor to portray Jim Winters. This talented man doesn't make a false movement and stays true to his character all the time. Mr. LaPaglia, who worked with Allison Janney on Broadway in Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge", is again reunited with his co-star and they feel right for one another. Ms. Janney's Molly, although not a showy role, gives her an opportunity to shine.Aaron Stanford is seen as the older son, Gabe, and Mark Webber is Peter. Both actors do a credible job under the sure direction of Mr. Sternfeld. Ron Livingston is the kind teacher who sees possibilities in Peter and Michele Monaghan is perfect as Stacey, the girl that is dumped without much logic, by Gabe."Winter Solstice" was beautifully photographed by Harlan Bosmajian, who captures the world of suburbia in all its glory. The atmospheric music is by John Leventhal. Josh Sternfeld created an intimate portrait about pain and anguish, as this family

This is one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. I only continued watching it because I was sure it would get to the point. It never did. Its pace is glacial with no apparent redeeming qualities. This is the first review I have written and if it keeps one person from enduring what I did, then I will know my life was not wasted.This is still one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. I only continued watching it because I was sure it would get to the point. It never did. Its pace is glacial with no apparent redeeming qualities. This is the first review I have written and if it keeps one person from enduring what I did, then I will know my life was not wasted.

Dialogue in this movie very good. It's perceptive, emotional, and somber. Each of the lead characters in the movie are dealing with some sort of emotional stress, and it manifests itself in what is said and actions or non-actions pretty realistically. The romance created was very well handled too...nothing really over-the-top, but rather the pain and anguish the Dad is experiencing from the present and past emphasized. We know it will take time, and so the movie does a great job of inferring to us what will happen. Would've liked to have seen perhaps a little more development with the younger brother, but that's minor. On the whole the movie only runs about 90 min, and its pacing is deliberate, thoughtful, and slow, but its nonetheless a good movie and drama.

I don't get it? I just saw this movie at a screening yesterday and subtle isn't the word. It's nothing. It felt like I was watching a bad 480 (USC Speak(senior film project)) that was stretched to 90 minutes. A drama that's 90 minutes. That speaks volumes. Bad comedies and children's films are 90 minutes. If you can't flesh out a drama to last 2 hours, you are missing something, like a story line. In this case I was grateful that we could leave. There were times in the film where I thought something was going to happen and we'd have the main conflict and a reason for the story. Nope, it just continues to the next scene. There WAS one fight, but I totally missed why one of the sons beat up a total stranger to us? If he was established earlier in the movie, I missed him. Picture "In The Bedroom" without the murder. BTW, I hated that one too, but it at least had a reason! I chatted with some people as we exited the theater and it seemed as confusing to them too. I was glad not to be alone on this one. This movie defines the way to stop a movie when your writer dies mid script. Cut to black, roll credits.