Revolving around a family's life in a small town in North Carolina, Junebug is a gem of movie filled with delicate character portrayals. Both writer Angus MacLachlan and director Phil Morrison are from North Carolina, and do a masterful job of portraying the subtle displays of emotions that are hidden to all but the indigenous townsfolk.
Central to the story is the homecoming of a Chicago couple. To woo a cranky but talented artist for her gallery, Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz) sets out to Winston-Salem, NC, with her new husband George (Alessandro Nivola). The artist lives near George's family, so they drop by to meet Madeleine.
With the exception of the vivacious and chirpy Ashley (Amy Adams), the wife of George's younger brother, Madeleine gets nothing but suspicion and hostile stares from the family, which finds her cosmopolitan manners and city attitudes condescending.
When Ashley's baby dies in childbirth, the helpless Madeleine is further alienated. While the film lacks fiery confrontations or teary reconciliations, its details weave a bittersweet portrait of life in semi-rural America.
The authentic portrayals - the bitterness towards those who leave their hometown for the cities, and the townsfolk's religious zeal and down-to-earth simplicity - help lift Junebug above ordinary films about American family life.