The Reel House Presents... "Chilly Scenes of Winter" at the Modern

Charles (John Heard) is a hopeless romantic hopelessly stuck in the past. Living in a snowy Salt Lake City, he works a mind-numbing government job while pining obsessively for Laura (Mary Beth Hurt), the free-spirited civil servant who stole his heart—and then returned to her uninspired husband. Unable to let go, Charles spends his days replaying their short-lived affair, seeking solace from his endlessly patient best friend (Peter Riegert), and trying to navigate the messy realities of adult heartbreak.

Adapted from Ann Beattie's celebrated novel and directed with razor-sharp intimacy by Joan Micklin Silver (Hester Street), Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979)—originally released as Head Over Heels—is an essential, unsung gem of American independent cinema. Piercingly funny, deeply honest, and anchored by a brilliantly flawed performance from John Heard, this bittersweet cult favorite offers an unvarnished, unforgettable look at unrequited love and the quiet desperation of the post-1960s generation.