Writer-director Christine Swanson’s Albany Road is a deeply personal dramatic exploration of the relationships of a woman. Celeste Simmons (Renée Elise Goldsberry) is a New York City executive on the way to a career-defining meeting when her flight is canceled. While renting a car, she runs into her ex-fiancé Kyle’s (J. Alphonse Nicholson) mother, Paula (Lynn Whitfield), who she believes sabotaged their relationship. Due to a coming blizzard, they are forced to embark together on an unpredictable road trip to Washington, D.C.
The narrative flashes back to a night a year ago when the newly engaged couple are out to dinner with Paula. Kyle is a professor at Georgetown University about to receive his tenure. This conflicts with Celeste’s plans, as she has just been offered a life-changing job opportunity in New York. Recently they had recieved a call from a company where Kyle applied for a job. His love for her has him ready to give up his tenure to follow her to New York, or so she thinks.
The call reveals that someone contacted the company pretending to be Kyle’s manager, turning down the position without his knowledge. Believing Paula to be the culprit, they invite her to dinner to call her out for trying to come between them. Her rebuttal leaves you questioning how much Kyle had to do with her decision to meddle in the relationship.
“…when her flight is canceled she runs into her ex-fiancé’s mother…”
Back in the present, Celeste and Paula try their best to stay civil as they deal with worsening conditions on the road. Celeste is getting call after call from her new boyfriend Phil (Gary Dourdan) to which she gives no reply. With no safe way to D.C., they have to decide whether to risk being stuck overnight in the freezing cold or go to Paula’s cousin Carol’s (Lisa Arrindell) homestead, only 30 miles away. They chose the latter, ignorant of what challenges waited for them at their new destination.
When they arrive, they are surprised by none other than Kyle with his new fiancé (Rachel Nicks). From then on, tensions between all parties escalated as we got a closer understanding of the family’s dynamic. Will Celeste and Paula ever make it to D.C.? How will Kyle react to his mother and ex-fiancé dropping in on him and his new love?
With a runtime over two hours, this movie could’ve been thirty minutes shorter. By the time it gets into the thick of it though you will cherish each moment. Scenes that may have felt like they went on too long, are carefully giving you everything needed to fully grasp the subject.
The beautiful thing about Albany Road is there are no stereotypes. Anyone from any walk of life will be able to see their family in this story. There is a protagonist, but in the way of a true ensemble, each character is equal. The script and direction from Swanson allowed them to make their part their own. You can see it clearly in each performance as chemistry and trust build between the actors throughout the film.
"…Anyone from any walk of life will be able to see their family in this story"
