Four short films, each set in a specific time of year and linked by a recurring character, distinguish “The Seasons — Four Love Stories.” Writer/director Paul Schwartz’s feature is a quietly affecting look at matters of the heart and the fleeting nature of time.
The first story is set in summer. Thirty-somethings Nick (Mike Keller) and Sasha (Katya Preiser) quickly moved in together during the pandemic but now aren’t sure they’re meant for each other. They head to a gathering at the upstate New York home of Nick’s aunt (Margo Sappington) where the couple squabble and gradually realize they are at a crossroads.
Sappington shows up in the autumn segment as friend and confidant to Emma (Anna Holbrook), a romance writer who is convinced her husband Kevin (Brian Hotaling) is having an affair with Samantha (Kathleen Simmonds), the owner-chef of the new restaurant in town. The middle aged couple moved upstate during the pandemic but now their sleepy existence is fertile ground for Emma’s wild imagination. Emma’s fears and fantasies about a love triangle are depicted in over the top, soapy segments that channel the spirit of her novels and make the story’s resolution even more satisfying.
The restaurant has a starring role in the winter chapter, an ode to chances missed and the hope of reconnecting with the past. Jane (Joan Porter) shows up at the cafe where she’s greeted by Emma. But this time the purpose is a long overdue reunion with Bill (Ed Setrakian), once Joan’s young beau. Flashbacks take place in the same restaurant decades earlier with Amelia Rose Allen and Bryce Edwards as the younger versions of the characters, creating a poignant link between youthful actions and mature reflection.
It's not surprising that the spring segment tackles young love but it is refreshing that the focus is on feisty pre-teen skateboarder Shiloh (Keira Lassor). She develops a crush on a kind teenager at the local skate park but is heartbroken when she realizes he has a girlfriend. An encounter on park bench with a caring stranger (Joan Porter, again) provides solace and opens Shiloh’s eyes to her persistent friend, a boy her own age. The older woman’s kindness and wisdom allows young Shiloh to move on.