Writer/director Ray Nomoto Robison’s family drama The Eve of May follows 73-year-old Evamay (Priscilla Quinby) as she returns to her hometown of Ashford, Oregon, after 50 years away. She is joined by her Granddaughter, Stephanie (Stephanie C. Jones), who is anxious about everything, including her Grandmother’s new approach to life. Evamay is looking at the world differently after the death of her overprotective, controlling husband. She wants to dive into new adventures with passion and throw caution to the wind. On the trip to Ashford, Stephanie learns history she didn’t know about her grandmother, including why it took her so long to return.
Their first shenanigans come when Evamay picks up a hitchhiker named Ray (Kirk McKenzie), who is en route to deliver drugs to some disreputable men. Evamay insists they take Ray to his drop, and they all go into the house. They have to use mace to escape when they are held against their will. Ray and Stephanie are shaken by this trauma, but Evamay is delighted that she’s gotten into and out of danger. Once they deliver Ray to his destination, Evamay unpacks at their hotel, and we see that she has stashed a handgun in her suitcase. She’s had an exciting day, has no f***ks to give, and is down to misbehave.
When they arrive in Ashford, Evamay brings Stephanie around for a decades-late visit through the memories of her youth. They wind up at a bachelorette party where they get loose and drink too much. When Evamay explores Ashford further, it turns out that the past wasn’t all rainbows and parties with male strippers. She left town for a good reason. As they drive home, they decide to pop in and check on Ray, just as his unsavory drug trade associates have come to see him. Things take a dark turn, and it comes down to Evamay to make a life-altering decision.
“…73-year-old Evamay returns to her hometown after 50 years away…”
Robison uses the limitations of a low budget to great effect in telling the story of The Eve of May. He keeps the camera setups intimate and the pace slow, resulting in an overall cozy vibe. Quinby and Jones have lively chemistry as Grandmother and Granddaughter. Quinby does the heavy lifting with her understated, authentic performance. Everyone would love to have a Grandma like Evamay.
The film is sweet as Evamay recounts her life, but there is an abrupt, poorly thought-out swerve in the last act. The tonal shift is jarring. The nature of the story jolts in a way that alters the experience too much, like being on a peaceful carousel that suddenly becomes a rollercoaster. The movie is tugged in two incompatible directions: one path leading to a dark thriller finale and the other resolving as a meditation about aging. The latter is what we’ve seen up to this point. This is the only flaw one could mention in the film, and this scene could easily be cut, keeping the story in its groove.
Robison talks about his inspiration for The Eve of May in his director’s notes. “I wrote this story after returning to my hometown after 40 years away. It is a very personal story, but I’ve tried to make it a film which many people can relate to, and I believe they can if they are willing to delve into their deepest emotional self.”
Taking the journey with Evamay and Stephanie is (mostly) joyful and wistful, providing a quiet moment to reflect on your own triumphs and regrets in a happy way.
"…joyful and wistful..."
