South of Somewhere

Addiction, loss, and recovery animate this affecting contemporary from Lowe (Lowcountry Lost). After serving time in jail for a DUI, Juniper “Junie” Wilder is determined to rebuild her life and regain custody of her daughter, Fern, who’s now living with Junie’s older brother, Cy. She retreats to her late grandmother’s South Carolina seaside estate, which she’s just inherited, and sets about trying to get back on her feet. Thankfully, the road to sobriety isn’t a solitary one, and she leans on the tough love of her 73-year-old sponsor Gilbert; the Magnolia Nephalist Society, an eclectic addiction recovery group; and handsome neighbor Henry, who offers a glimpse of a future beyond her mistakes. As Junie tackles recovery, a custody battle, and the process of starting a dog-walking company, she grapples with deep fears about whether her daughter might be better off without her and whether she’s worthy of God’s forgiveness. Lowe’s character work is nuanced, and she excels at depicting the unglamorous, day-to-day grind of recovery. It adds up to a resonant testament to the power of community to help one make a fresh start. (Mar.)