Emotional Arithmetic (2008)

"Emotional Arithmetic" unravels the intricate tapestry of lives interconnected by the threads of a shared, harrowing past. Melanie Lansing Winters, a woman graced with elegance but haunted by mental instability, lives a seemingly tranquil life with her husband, David Winters, a semi-retired university professor infamous for his chronic infidelity. Their home, a quaint hobby farm in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, also houses their adult son Benjamin and his child, Timothy, oblivious of the poignant secrets of Melanie's past she refuses to reveal. In 1985, Melanie's pursuit of global political oppression cases, a result of her own past torment, leads her to reconnect with Jakob Bronski, a man she knew during the grim days of World War II. Both Melanie and Jakob, now a heroic dissident and a veteran of a Soviet psychiatric hospital, were interned at Drancy, a chilling transit station outside Paris where Jews were held captive before their relocation to death camps. It was in this bleak setting that they formed a lifelong bond with Christopher Lewis, a British teenager interned despite not being Jewish and who grows up to be an acclaimed novelist, forever marked by survivor's guilt. Melanie, defying David's reluctance, invites Jakob to their home, who in turn brings Christopher along, setting in motion a chain of events that exposes the deep-seated emotional wounds of their past. Their reunion not only revitalizes Melanie's spirit but also ignites a spark of jealousy in David, further straining his already fractured relationship with Benjamin. With these three survivors under one roof, their past explodes into the present, unveiling a tender love story with fatal consequences, forcing them to confront their past and perform their own 'emotional arithmetic.' As Melanie, Jakob, and Christopher's past intermingles with the Winters' family dynamics, Benjamin begins to unravel the enigma of his mother's life, leading him to understand the profound impact of their shared past on their present lives. "Emotional Arithmetic" is a poignant exploration of the enduring effects of past trauma, the struggle for survival, and the quest for emotional peace amidst life's complexities.

Emotional Arithmetic is a drama movie featuring Susan Sarandon.

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