Nostalgia 2018

A captivating tapestry of narratives centered on love and loss, this film delves deep into our connections with objects, artifacts, and the memories they evoke.

The story opens at a diner where middle-aged insurance agent Daniel Kalman (John Ortiz) admires the beautiful sentimental jewelry worn by a waitress. His journey leads him to visit Ronald Ashemore (Bruce Dern), an elderly architect in his eighties who lives off his pension. Daniel’s primary goal is to evaluate Ronald’s belongings on behalf of his granddaughter Bethany (Amber Tamblyn). He successfully identifies several items that hold enough significance for an appraiser to examine further.

Daniel’s next stop is to Bethany and her husband. Feeling the weight of responsibility especially as a pregnant woman, she finds it challenging to make decisions regarding her grandfather’s future, despite her deep affection for him and reluctance to confront the reality of his mortality. Back at his office, Daniel reflects on the photographs he captured, pondering the stories of lives that have been lived.

In his following appointment, Daniel meets Helen Greer (Ellen Burstyn), whose home was ravaged by a wildfire. As she shares her sorrow about the limited time she had to salvage cherished keepsakes, Daniel identifies a signed baseball among her remaining possessions that may hold significant value. They discuss their shared losses over coffee at a neighbor’s house, further illustrating how stories unfold through shared experiences.

Helen currently resides with her son Henry (Nick Offerman) and his wife, Lisa. The looming decision surrounding her assisted living arrangements sows discontent, and the thought of liquidating her possessions before the insurance arrives only adds to the turmoil.

Helen decides to travel to Las Vegas with the baseball in hand, seeking an appraiser’s insight. Once settled into her hotel, she indulges in some gambling and solo dining. Amid emotional struggles, she consults Will Beam (Jon Hamm), who confirms the baseball’s authenticity, attributing the signature to famed player Ted Williams. While most memorabilia in his experience fetches around $10-20,000, he estimates hers could reach $80-100,000, astonishing Helen. Following a heartfelt discussion, she finally finds the strength to let go of her late husband’s treasured keepsake.

Meanwhile, Will returns to his hometown in Virginia to assist his older sister Donna (Catherine Keener) in clearing out their parents’ house, which is now on the market after their relocation to a condo in Florida. While Will approaches the task with a pragmatic view of the heirlooms, Donna feels the emotional weight of the house’s memories, especially as it affects her daughter Tallie (Annalise Basso).

As they navigate through countless keepsakes, Tallie struggles to connect with items that symbolize a past she cannot grasp. Overwhelmed, she decides to join her friend Kathleen ([Mikey Madison]) for a trip. While offloading items into an onsite dumpster, Will discovers letters from their father expressing profound love for their mother, Joy. This poignant moment arrives as he peacefully drifts off to soft jazz melodies.

However, tranquility shatters when Will receives a panicked call from Donna; a drunk driver has tragically struck the car carrying Tallie, resulting in her untimely death. Immediately, Donna’s husband Patrick (James LeGros) rushes to pick up Will so they can provide support to a grieving Donna. Later, as they navigate their heartbreak, friends Peter (Patton Oswalt) and Marge (Joanna Going) pay a visit to offer their condolences. The film poignantly captures the fragility of life and the enduring power of memories.