Rachel Hendrix

Enzian Theater, Maitland, Florida • April 12, 2024

directed by Victor Nunez

starring Lori Singer and Catherine Dent

Carl F. Gauze

Rachel Hendrix (Lori Singer) finds herself stuck in a rut. She teaches high school composition, and while the kids enjoy her and their work, she lacks focus. Or as we say, “she’s burned out.” Her students are engaged and clever, her boss treats her well, and her family is no more messed up than anyone else’s. Here, small-town Florida panhandle life could be worse, and her state of mind could sure be better. We follow her ups and downs as she lives in the low-rent beachfront lifestyle of rural Florida. What might perk her up? That’s the short story.

Without giving away any plot points, she bounces around in this discount beachfront town. Her daughter helps, and her boss works to keep her on staff. After all, finding good help is always a problem. Eventually a switch flips, and somehow her family rallies, and all is well with the crisis.

It’s all very employee positive. Still, I found this movie difficult to engage with at first, but the minutia of her life shores her up. By credit roll, her family has rallied around her, shot off some fireworks, and all gathered for a huge seafood-based dinner. It’s a happy ending brought on by all the positive embraces of family connectivity. It’s small-town troubles, mixed with big town solutions.

This film was part of the 2024 Florida Film Festival, an Oscar®-qualifying festival now in its 33rd year.