Watch Shy People

Shy People is a 1987 drama directed by Andrey Konchalovskiy and starring Jill Clayburgh, Barbara Hershey, and Martha Plimpton. The film follows the story of Diana Sullivan (Clayburgh), a successful New York magazine writer who is sent on an assignment to rural Louisiana to do a feature on her estranged mother-in-law, Ruth (Hershey), who lives in a remote bayou community.

Diana is initially resistant to the idea of visiting Ruth, as she has no interest in reconnecting with her husband's family. However, when she arrives in the small town, she is struck by its rugged beauty and the mysterious, insular nature of its inhabitants. She is particularly fascinated by Ruth, who lives in a rundown cabin with her teenage daughter, Lou (Plimpton), and seems to have completely withdrawn from society.

As Diana spends more time with Ruth and Lou, she begins to uncover some uncomfortable truths about her mother-in-law's past. Ruth was once a successful artist who was forced to abandon her career and move to the bayou after being accused of a crime she didn't commit. The trauma of her experience has left her emotionally scarred and unable to trust anyone.

Despite Ruth's initial hostility towards Diana, the two women eventually form a bond as Diana helps Ruth to confront her past and come to terms with her pain. Along the way, Diana also forms a deep connection with Lou, who is struggling to find her own sense of identity and purpose in a community where she feels like an outsider.

Shy People is a haunting and atmospheric film that explores themes of family, trauma, and redemption. The movie is notable for its gorgeous cinematography, which vividly captures the lush beauty of the Louisiana landscape, and for its powerful performances from its three lead actresses. Clayburgh is particularly moving as a woman who must confront her own biases and prejudices in order to connect with her mother-in-law, while Hershey gives a masterful portrayal of a woman who has been broken by the cruelty of fate.

Overall, Shy People is a deeply moving and thought-provoking film that offers a powerful meditation on the ways in which we are all shaped by our pasts, and the transformative power of human connection.