“Ho ho ho” turns into “No, no, no” in filmmaker H. Nelson Tracey‘s debut feature, Breakup Season. Arriving just in time for the holidays (on VOD Friday, December 6), this indie dramedy tells the story of a young couple’s ill-timed split during the most wonderful time of the year. In his winning directorial debut, Tracey cleverly combines a coming-of-age story over Christmas and captures a broad spectrum of deeply felt human emotions, making for a humorous, heartwarming, and crowd-pleasing delight.

A Young Couple’s Unconventional Christmas Story

What should be a memorable moment meeting her boyfriend’s family quickly becomes a nightmare scenario for Cassie (Samantha Isler, Molly’s Game, Captain Fantastic), who finds she must navigate her fragile relationship while staying with them over Christmas. Arriving with her excitable boyfriend Ben (Chandler Riggs, The Walking Dead) in his rural hometown in La Grande, Oregon, Cassie puts on a happy face to embrace his lovely family, who all welcome Cassie with open arms. There’s Ben’s quirky dad, Kirby (James Urbaniak), his loving mom, Mia (Brook Hogan), and his aspiring influencer younger sister, Liz (Carly Stewart), who live streams the entirety of the events.

Watch the Breakup Season trailer here.

However, Ben’s older step-brother, Gordon (Jacob Wysocki), disrupts the cheer with an antagonizing interrogation of Cassie over dinner, unknowingly breaking the final straw in her and Ben’s relationship. Cassie tearfully tells a heartbroken Ben that things aren’t working and that it’s best if she leaves the next morning to go home. However, the weather has other plans, and the next morning, all flights are grounded until after Christmas–leading Cassie to realize that she must spend the rest of her holiday with her now ex-boyfriend and his family.

Balancing Empathy and Entertainment On Screen

With its nuanced balance of comedy and drama, Breakup Season captures the highs and lows of love in your early 20s. Emotionally honest and astutely observed, H. Nelson Tracey’s poignant script allows audiences to understand Cassie and Ben’s perspectives on their unfortunate situation, making for an empathetic experience. Bringing these dynamic characters to life are Samantha Isler and Chandler Riggs, who deliver powerful and authentic performances that ground the viewer in dread, regret, and longing.

With his singular brand of comedy, Jacob Wysocki steals the show as the boisterous older brother Gordon, even impressing in the film’s dramatic turns. And then there’s the very location of La Grande, Oregon itself, which one could say also plays a supporting character. With much admiration for its community, spirit, and beauty, Breakup Season also shows why this real-life small town is worth visiting.

Takeaway

If you’re in a movie rut this holiday season, put Breakup Season at the top of your watchlist. This smart, funny, heartfelt indie dramedy that captures everything about young love is an incredible accomplishment for filmmaker H. Nelson Tracey (a promising young talent whose career we’re excited to continue following) and for all involved (including the up-and-coming production company Static Films). Breakup Season truly is a gift that will keep on giving for many seasons to come.