There are two tragedies at the center of "Little Accidents," the feature debut of writer-director Sara Colangelo. The first takes place at a mine, where 10 men are killed and only one young worker, Amos (Boyd Holbrook), survives. The second is the disappearance of a high school student, who happens to be the son of one of the mine executives that could be at fault for the disaster.
If that all sounds a little too convenient, the events never come across as anything but realistically coincidental since they take place in a small coal town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Besides, the movie is less an example of cinema verite than a well-crafted meditation on how the truth can be an unwieldy burden.
Amos, for example, may or may not remember what happened on the day of the accident, but plenty of people make it clear what version of events he should recall. The miners union leader would like Amos to tell lawyers something that will ensure a lucrative lawsuit for the victims' families, while those still working in the mine just want to keep their jobs. Instead, Amos keeps to himself, listlessly shuffling around town with a cane that makes him look decades older than his years.
Another similarly themed tale unfolds in parallel as Owen (Jacob Lofland), the son of one of those dead miners, knows what happened to missing teenager JT Doyle (Travis Tope). But he can’t bring himself to go to the police.
Owen’s and Amos’s paths cross with that of Diane (Elizabeth Banks), JT’s mother. She lives on the wealthy side of town, and she’s unraveling in the wake of both tragedies. She knows neither what happened to her son nor whether her husband is to blame for the mining deaths, but she’s hoping some combination of wine and Bible study might prove therapeutic.
“Little Accidents” is a well-executed film with a strong sense of place. The blue-gray palette is an ominous fog that envelops every scene, and the slow music, reminiscent of Appalachian strings, communicates both the setting and the mood.
The acting across the board is top-notch, especially by Banks, who is probably best known for her comedic roles. She doesn’t get to flex any of those muscles here; “Little Accidents” is a serious movie, but, to its credit, it’s never entirely bleak. Revealing the truth always remains an option, just waiting to set the characters free.
★ ★ ★
Unrated. At AMC Loews Shirlington 7.
Contains strong language, brief violence and sexual situations. 105 minutes.
