The Reception

It's fine stuff, beautifully played, but there's no denying that viewers will have to be patient with this 80-minute chamber piece, the first third of which feels cold and false, only to suddenly shift into unexpectedly deep emotional territory.

It's an intimate chamber piece, dialogue-heavy and at times claustrophobic, but the four central characters are so deftly sketched, and their shifting alliances so intricately choreographed, that the film never feels talky or staged. The actors are consistently excellent.

A fresh and uncompromising account of emotional self-immolation and romantic flux. And it has a happy ending to boot.

Clever, racially and sexually provocative variation on "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Their subtle, complex performances could put far more experienced and better-known actors to shame.

Well-acted but otherwise lackluster drama.

Although The Reception boasts some moments of emotional truth, its small scale and claustrophobic atmosphere make it a tough sit despite its brief time.