Ten Thousand Saints 2015

The movie opens solemnly at a funeral, where a poignant scripture reading mentions “10,000 saints.” Set in 1980 Vermont, the narrative follows Jude, whose father Les, portrayed by Emile Hirsch, has been exiled to the greenhouse by his mother Harriet, played by Emily Mortimer, due to his infidelity. Jude ventures out to connect with his father, engaging in a heartfelt conversation that reveals their close bond. Notably, as the credits roll, the order of the actors suggests that Jude appears significantly younger in this early scene compared to later ones. Les, who dubs himself a botanist, is met with different titles by others, hinting at the nature of his mysterious cultivation.

Harriet, being some form of glass artist, completes the family dynamic alongside their daughter, Prudence.

The story unfolds further during an unspecified New Year’s Eve when Eliza, the teenage daughter of Jude’s new girlfriend Diane, unexpectedly arrives. Eliza’s backstory reveals that her father passed away while she was young, leaving behind a legacy as a successful lawyer. Diane, residing in an opulent New York City home with multiple staff, introduces Jude and his friend Teddy to Eliza, setting the stage for a fateful party. Amidst the festivities, both Jude and Teddy partake in substances, leading to catastrophic outcomes, while Eliza embroils herself in trouble, potentially facing pregnancy.

As the plot thickens, Les expresses a desire for Jude to move in with him in New York City, where he lives in a modest rent-controlled apartment previously owned by a woman no longer in need of it. Conveniently, this new location is near Teddy’s brother Johnny, a tattoo artist whose rock band, “Army of One,” epitomizes the sound of 90s grunge but adheres to a “straightedge” lifestyle, eschewing drugs and alcohol as Les puts it, unlike his own generation.

The film intricately weaves the complicated relationships between Eliza and Johnny, Eliza and Diane, and Les and Jude. In a significant twist, Eliza even takes residence with Harriet, leading to an unexpected camaraderie between Harriet and Diane. However, Johnny’s band’s constant touring adds strain to his relationship with Eliza.

As the story progresses, themes of morality surface, complicated by conflicts with yuppies encroaching on the once rundown neighborhood where these characters seek to find their place.