Around the Bend 2004

In a modest home, Jason Lair shares his life with his grandfather, Henry, his son Zach, and their caregiver Katrina, who hails from Denmark. The peace of this household is disrupted by the unexpected return of Jason’s estranged father, Turner, a musician with a troubled history. Turner abandoned Jason when he was an infant, leaving a legacy filled with pain and unresolved issues. His return sparks a complex emotional reaction from Jason, who is understandably cautious and skeptical about Turner’s true motives.

As the tension mounts between them, Henry’s health begins to deteriorate, leaving him increasingly frail. While he cherishes the reunion with his family, this joy is short-lived as he announces his intentions for one final road trip—a decision that dismays everyone involved. In a heartbreaking twist, Henry’s insistence on this adventure becomes a fateful choice, leading to his passing with Zach by his side.

In the aftermath, Jason finds solace at a local bar, unaware that Henry has planned one last grand endeavor from beyond the grave. With cunning thought, Henry leaves behind cryptic notes written on Post-It stickers, hidden within KFC bags to create a scavenger hunt that promises to lead his family on a remarkable journey.

Henry’s final wish is for his family—Turner, Jason, and Zach—to undertake a pilgrimage across the American West. The plan is revealed when they open that first KFC bag: they are to scatter Henry’s ashes while traveling in a vintage VW van from Los Angeles to New Mexico. This unique burial ritual is a doorway for the estranged family to reconnect and find some much-needed closure.

As they embark on this journey of self-discovery, Turner, Jason, and Zach find themselves rekindling lost connections while facing the tangled web of their relationships. Their journey leads them to the gravesite of Henry’s wife, where Turner shares a heartfelt performance and leaves a simple gesture—a sandwich—reflecting his attempt at reconciliation. Amidst the backdrop of desert highways, the trio bonds over fried chicken at every stop, creating a unique connection over shared meals.

Through this odyssey, Henry’s intended “tribe” gradually comes together, illustrating the complexities of each character as they confront their pasts and learn to accept one another. The open road becomes a canvas for forgiveness and redemption, allowing them to paint a new narrative together. As they drive toward New Mexico, they pause at a sentimental spot where Henry had shared intimate moments with Jason’s mother. At a modest motel, an ornate vessel containing the deceased is bestowed upon them, serving as a poignant reminder of their collective history.

In a sudden turn of events, federal agents arrive to deliver devastating news to Katrina: Turner has become a fugitive, an existence exacerbated by a terminal illness that threatens to pull him further away from the life he seeks to repair.

In the face of imminent death as they near Albuquerque, Turner desperately tries to sever ties with Jason and Zach, intending to pawn them off on his canine companion. However, he soon realizes that his true purpose is to coax them into the light of his hidden truths. Meanwhile, Zach’s maternal guardian arrives to reclaim her son, and Jason learns of Turner’s deteriorating health—his kidneys failing and time slipping away.

Unfazed, Jason reaches the designated meeting spot, only to find Turner at a low point in his journey. It is here that Turner comes clean about his past mistakes, revealing that his drunken state led to abandoning Jason, resulting in the injury that left him with a limp.

As their journey comes to a close, Henry’s vitality fades as they move toward the sacred rock where he had cherished moments with Jason’s mother. With heavy hearts, Jason and Zach finally lay the ashes of their beloved grandfather to rest in the expansive backdrop of nature. In an act of heartfelt closure, the last two members of the tribe collectively scatter his remains from the revered rock, strengthening their bond through the shared journey.