The High Cost of Living (2010)

Cast: Zach Braff, Isabelle Blais, Patrick Labbe, Julian Lo

Director: Deborah Chow

Rating: NR

Running Time: 92 min.

Synopsis: A tragedy brings together two strangers in this independent drama from Canada. Nathalie Beauchamp (Isabelle Blais) and Henry Welles (Zach Braff) live just a few blocks away from one another in Montreal, but they have precious little in common. Nathalie is married to a wealthy man (Patrick Labbe), has a fine home, and is excited about the birth of her first child in a month. Henry, on the other hand, supports himself dealing drugs, rents a grubby Chinatown flat, and lives his life in constant motion. One night, Henry accidentally runs into Nathalie and speeds off before the police can catch up with him. Henry's conscience gets the better of him and he tracks down Nathalie to see if she's OK; he's crushed when he learns that she's fine, but her baby died and she'll be giving birth to a stillborn infant. Nathalie's husband reacts in a callous fashion to the news and she turns her back on him, setting out on her own. Henry befriends Nathalie and offers to take her in as she tries to start a new life; however, he doesn't have the courage to tell her it was his actions that set these events in motion. The first feature film from writer and director Deborah Chow, The High Cost of Living was an official selection at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.