Causeway (2022)

Causeway is an American drama film directed by Lila Neugebauer and written by Ottessa Moshfegh, Luke Goebel and Elizabeth Sanders.

Jennifer Lawrence plays an American soldier named Lynsey who suffers a brain injury while serving in Afghanistan.

As she recovers, Lynsey has to struggle physically and emotionally with the lingering effects of her time at war.

The film begins with Lynsey's journey to New Orleans. We see the difficulties she has in getting around and the memory problems resulting from her injury.

She is distant and closed off, and finds it difficult to adapt to civilian life. Lynsey gets a job cleaning pools to keep her busy, but she remains isolated.

One day her car breaks down and she has to go to a repair shop where she meets James.

After some failed interactions, the two bond over their shared struggles with past traumas. Lynsey opens up to Jim about her injury and the guilt she feels for her friends who died in combat. Jim shares his own past losses and pain. Their unlikely friendship serves as mutual comfort.

Over time, we see Lynsey slowly come out of her shell thanks to James' emotional support. She starts going out to bars with him after work and even starts cooking again, showing signs of healing.

However, Lynsey continues to struggle with the psychological scars of war that constantly haunt her. Her injuries also cause continual physical setbacks that are a bitter reminder.

When a work trip takes James away from New Orleans for a time, Lynsey once again feels abandoned and alone in her isolation. Her mental state worsens further without his stabilising presence.

This deterioration eventually leads to a crisis in which Lynsey's injuries and traumas resurface with devastating impact. The film's conclusion shows whether Lynsey finds a way to fully overcome her injuries and move on in life.

The film won several awards, Toronto International Film Festival 2022 honoured at the TIFF Tribute Awards, Denver Film Critics Society 2022, Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), New York Film Critics Circle 2022, Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Indiana Film Journalists Association 2022, Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence).