Expired

“We love cinema that makes us laugh, cry, or squirm with discomfort. And when a film accomplishes all three, as does Expired -- on the pure strength of smart writing and excellent performances -- it's a small miracle. Expired is the story of Claire, an unimposing, sweet-tempered meter maid whose sheltered existence with her stroke-afflicted mother is jolted when she meets Jay, a troubled fellow parking officer. As Claire tentatively emerges from her shell and emotionally stunted Jay jumps in with gusto, their love affair becomes an awkward and sometimes-hilarious dance of antagonism and attraction, and she must decide whether to engage or pull away.

Samantha Morton and Jason Patric bring naturalism and gentle irony to characters who, when confronted with the possibility of closeness and sex, attempt to overcome paralyzing fear in completely disparate ways. Cecilia Miniucchi and her actors never shrink from Claire and Jay's raw or inelegant moments, nor do they stray from tracing the subtle evolution of a relationship variously shaded with perversity, generosity, misunderstanding, and tenderness. Mining the comedy and pathos inherent in the foibles of damaged characters, as well as the excruciating qualities of love, Expired offers searing insight into the complex mechanisms that obstruct human intimacy.” (Sundance Film Festival)


“A touching and unlikely romance that is no gloss but all heart and brains.” (Duane Byrge, Hollywood Reporter)

“An occasionally cringe-inducing mix of pathos and humor, the tightly scripted and well-acted tale follows a lonely, vulnerable meter maid who falls into a comically horrific relationship with a colleague incapable of emotional intimacy.” (Alissa Simon, Variety)

“The funny, sad, offbeat, sometimes off-the-beat romance “Expired” is one of those precariously balanced movies that might fall to pieces with a different cast. It’s possible that two actors other than Samantha Morton and Jason Patric might do justice to Cecilia Miniucchi’s story about two badly matched Santa Monica, Calif., parking enforcement officers who stumble and grope into a relationship. But it’s hard to think of a better match for the stubborn idiosyncrasies of Ms. Miniucchi’s visual style and worldview than these two...[Morton is] close to perfect here.” (Manohla Dargis, New York Times)