Golden Exits 2018

Two families residing in the vibrant Carroll Gardens area of Brooklyn find their lives upended by the arrival of Naomi, a 25-year-old Australian intern who has connections with both families. Golden Exits delves deep into the complex relationships among the characters and highlights how Naomi’s presence significantly influences them. Both Nick and Buddy contemplate various potential relationships with Naomi, which Alyssa and Jess are somewhat conscious of. Their sisters Gwen and Sam are also drawn into the dynamic, as the worries and insecurities of each sister shed light on their differing feelings about marriage and singlehood.

Naomi emerges as an enigmatic, disruptive force—“an obscure object of desire, a symbol of lost youth and possibility”—and she remains fully aware of her impact on the group and what she hopes to achieve from this situation. This awareness fuels her actions throughout the story.

Another important theme explored in Golden Exits is the prevailing anxiety and insecurity that plague the characters, intensified by the relentless influence of social media, where it often seems that everyone else is leading a more glamorous life. As Perry reflects, > “I didn’t have a master plan, but I had some ideas, and now I’m just kind of confused because it feels like the last three years have just kind of slipped away.”

The film’s title encapsulates Sam’s yearning for optimal exits from relationships—an ideal that remains elusive amidst the bonds of family life. Naomi’s departure from New York marks the conclusion of her internship and brings the narrative full circle, culminating in pivotal conversations between Nick and Alyssa, as well as Buddy and Jess, as they attempt to mend their relationships in the wake of change.