Flavor of the Month

March 16, 2020
Beers (One Walk in Winter) whips up a sweet lesbian romance uncomplicated by homophobia and brimming with mouthwatering descriptions of foodie indulgences. After Charlie Stetko’s girlfriend abruptly dumps her, she returns to Shaker Falls, Vt., from Manhattan to lick her wounds. Her temporary job making pies at the town bakery combined with the insular social scene makes contact with her first love, restaurateur Emma Grier, unavoidable. Two years before, Charlie broke Emma’s heart by deserting her to pursue her big-city dreams, leaving Emma in Shaker Falls to look after her alcoholic mother. Both women are well-intentioned and endearing, and it’s easy to root for their inevitable reconciliation. But once the couple rediscover their natural ease with one another, Beers throws a challenging emotional hurdle in their path, forcing them to fight through tragedy to earn their happy ending. This simple, uplifting romance is notably devoid of villains, instead allowing Charlie and Emma’s internal struggles to drive the conflict. The result is subdued but satisfying.