John Sayles' fable of love, redemption, and fragile hope springs fully-formed from the end-of-the-road beauty of Southeast Alaska. The film matches flawless cinematography with a host of exquisite performances. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio plays Donna, a vagabond chanteuse on the saloon circuit; David Strathairn's Joe Gastineau is a wilderness woman's wet dream; and Vanessa Martinez as Donna's troubled daughter has a fire of her own. Limbo transcends expectations with oppressive weather, spawning salmon, and a courageous denouement.

Havi Hoffman