Dave Taylor, a phenomenally successful San Francisco surgeon, finds his life shattered after a surgery on a local billionaire goes terribly wrong, leaving the man paralyzed. Confronted with the fallout, Dave seeks solace in his family, but instead faces a night of confrontation and turmoil with his wife, Gwen, and their teenage children, Roan and Rachel. The looming presence of Marius, his intimidating father-in-law, adds another layer of pressure, especially given Marius's political ambitions. As Dave grapples with his own shortcomings and insecurities, he can't shake the feeling that his efforts for Marius's family are never enough.
Awakening in a stark white room, Dave is thrust into a nightmare. Informed by a clinical figure named Mackey that he's committed unspeakable acts in a fugue state, Dave struggles to reconcile this horrifying reality with the man he knows himself to be. Only a compassionate nurse named Ellen offers him any semblance of comfort, urging him to "trust in dreams" as he pieces together his fragmented memories.
Haunted by glimpses of a clandestine affair with his colleague, Suzanne, Dave begins to suspect that she holds the key to the truth behind his family's tragedy. With the arrival of a young lawyer, Rob Ensler, who fervently believes in Dave's innocence, hope flickers dimly. Yet, Dave's days in the hospital become a grueling ordeal of psychological torment, as Mackey and his cohorts subject him to cruel punishments for every fragment of truth he uncovers.
Through sheer determination and resourcefulness, Dave manages to escape with Suzanne's help, only to find himself thrust into a high-stakes game of survival. Pursued by mysterious figures and plagued by doubts, Dave's quest for answers leads him to a chilling revelation: Marius orchestrated the entire ordeal to test his loyalty. Forced to confront an impossible choice between his family and his lover, Dave's descent into moral ambiguity reaches a devastating climax.
Returning to the semblance of normalcy, Dave grapples with the weight of his decisions, haunted by the sacrifices made in the pursuit of power. As Marius ascends to the highest echelons of political power, Dave's own trajectory sees him propelled into the political arena, forever changed by the harrowing journey that led him there. Despite outward success, Dave's soul bears the scars of betrayal and compromise, a cautionary tale of the moral compromises made in the pursuit of ambition.
Beth Ann Huber, a high-powered attorney at a prestigious New York City law firm, finds her career teetering on the brink of collapse. A work related "misjudgment" threatens not only her professional life but also her sense of self. At the insistence of her therapist, Dr. Francis, Beth Ann returns to her roots in small midwestern Wausau, Wisconsin, reluctantly seeking clarity in the midst of her personal turmoil.
Back in the rural town she once fled, Beth Ann's presence is a stark contrast to the simple life of her family. Draped in Gucci and Louis Vuitton, she initially feels like an outsider, haunted by the ghosts of her tumultuous adolescence. The old wounds and unresolved tensions with her estranged mother, Mrs. Huber, and sister Karen, resurface, making the return of the prodigal daughter seem even more unbearable.
Mrs. Huber, now in her twilight years, grapples with the frailties of age. Her once-sharp mind is beginning to falter and Beth Ann is confronted with the sobering reality of her mother’s deteriorating condition. Amidst the silence of their unspoken grievances, an unexpected ritual begins to unfold. At the stroke of midnight, Beth Ann and her mother find themselves in the kitchen, sharing late-night snacks and rekindling their bond over whispered conversations and long-forgotten memories.
As the kitchen becomes their sanctuary, Beth Ann and Mrs. Huber begin to navigate the labyrinth of their shared past. Secrets long buried come to light, illuminating the intricate ways in which their history has shaped their present selves. Beth Ann's initial resistance gives way to a profound rediscovery of familial love and forgiveness, allowing her to confront her own demons and the scandal threatening her future.
Beth Ann's journey is one of profound transformation. Through her midnight meetings in the kitchen, she begins to heal the rift with her mother and sister, understanding that love, in all its complexity, is the thread that binds them. As she mends the fractures within her family, she also starts to reconcile with herself, finding strength and solace in the very place she once sought to escape.
"Meet Me in the Kitchen at Midnight" is a poignant exploration of the enduring power of family ties, the shadows of our past, and the intricate dance of forgiveness and redemption. It’s a story that beautifully captures the essence of coming home—not just to a place, but to oneself.
SYNOPSIS
BETH ANN HUBER
Beth Ann Huber (40s) is a self absorbed New York lawyer dealing with a midlife crisis.
Jennifer Aniston
KAREN HUBER
CAST WISH LIST
Karen Huber is Beth Ann's younger sister. Karen has a family of her own, but is navigating unfamiliar waters for the first time.
Rachel McAdams
Michelle Monoghan
MRS. HUBER
At the risk of sounding redundant, Mrs. Huber is a disapproving, catholic mother. She's also the glue that holds the family together.
Katherine Heigl
DR. FRANCIS
Dr. Francis is Beth Ann's therapist. She finally convinces Beth Ann to reconnect with her family.
Mackenzie Davis
Julia Stiles
Diane Wiest
Meryl Streep
Amy Madigan
Maya Rudolph
Sandra Oh
Queen Latifah
SIDEBURNS
An old flame of Beth Ann's, who is now the town's physical therapist. The two reconnect upon her visit back home.
Harry Connick Jr
Josh Lucas
Paul Rudd
MR. KRUPP
The charming owner of the bookstore where Beth Ann reunites with the people she had erased from her life.
Ed Harris
Ted Danson
JK Simmons
CINEMATIC REFERENCES
"Meet Me In The Kitchen at Midnight" is a dramedy comparable to "Silver Linings Playbook", "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Hope Floats", as it shares common themes that resonate deeply with audiences. At their core, these movies explore the complexities of relationships, the strength of family bonds and friendship, as well as the resilience of individuals in the face of life's challenges.
In the heartwarming drama "Silver Linings Playbook", we follow the journey of Pat Solitano Jr. as he strives to rebuild his life after a stint in a mental health facility. Determined to reconcile with his estranged wife, Pat forms an unexpected bond with Tiffany, a mysterious young woman dealing with her own challenges. As they navigate a fragile friendship amidst their turbulent personal lives, Pat and Tiffany discover hope and healing in unexpected places. "Meet Me In The Kitchen At Midnight" and "Silver Linings Playbook" both each tell a touching tale of resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of human connection, with protagonists following the advice of their therapists in both movies.
"Sweet Home Alabama" focuses on the journey of Melanie Carmichael as she reconnects with her roots and rekindles relationships with old friends and family. The film underscores the theme of self-discovery as Melanie, a successful fashion designer in New York, returns to her hometown in Alabama to finalize her divorce from her first love. Through this journey, she reconciles her past with her present, finding a balance between her ambitions and her heart's desires. The stories in "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Meet Me In The Kitchen at Midnight" emphasize the enduring impact of one's origins and the significance of staying true to oneself, showcasing how Melanie's relationships and experiences in her hometown ultimately shape her identity and future.
Birdee Pruitt's seemingly perfect life in "Hope Floats" is shattered when she discovers her husband's infidelity on national television. Devastated and with her young daughter in tow, Birdee leaves Chicago and returns to her hometown in Smithville, Texas, seeking solace and a fresh start with her eccentric mother. This directly parallels "Meet Me In The Kitchen at Midnight" with the lead characters each leaving the big city and returning home in the midst of personal strife. In addition, the lead characters in both films try to move forward with their lives by reconnecting with their roots. They each navigate the challenges of small-town gossip and find unexpected romance in their hometowns. These films are both touching stories of rediscovering love, personal resilience, and the courage to embrace new beginnings by coming home.
These films underscore the power of relationships, the journey of self-discovering, and the strength required to face life's adversities.
DIRECTOR
Ghizlane S. Morlot's first step as a director was shooting a feature documentary about renowned artist Trimpin. Since then, she has gone on to write and direct several narrative shorts, all featuring troubled women on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Morlot received an M.F.A. in Television and Screenwriting from Stephens College, Columbia MO. She was granted a fellowship by the Alliance of Women Directors in Los Angeles and participated in a six-month directing workshop with USC School of Cinematics Arts Associate Professor Jennifer Warren, as part of a diversity initiative supporting women in film.
In the fall 2019, Morlot shadowed producer/director Randy Zisk (pre-production and production) on the set of "Almost Family" (Fox Television). During the 2021 pandemic, Morlot directed "Snow On The Farm", a comedy web-series featuring women, chicken (mostly female) and goats (youTube/IGTV).
In 2020, Morlot co-founded a production outfit in Los Angeles called Countess Films with her producing partner Jean-Francois Cavelier. Countess Films is set to focus primarily on feature films projects that shall allow for women's voices to be heard while opening-up opportunities to tell more inclusive stories.
Shortly thereafter, Countess Films entered into a producing agreement with production and distribution company Pollack Films. Under that agreement, Morlot is attached to direct her debut feature-length film "Meet Me In The Kitchen At Midnight", a dramedy about yet another woman on the edge; followed by the heart-warming holiday feature "The Angel Of Harlem" with principal photography scheduled for 2024.
WRITER
Mary Elbert Robbins' evolution from a clinical therapist to an award-winning screenwriter is a journey of transforming personal experiences into compelling narratives. Her venture into screenwriting was catalyzed by a poignant irony: the loss of her father in a slip and fall accident, echoing his own profession in investigating such accidents.
Her screenplay, "Meet Me in the Kitchen at Midnight" emerged from another personal crossroad, crafted during the COVID-19 pandemic as she returned to Wisconsin following her mother's dementia diagnosis.
This screenplay is a heartfelt exploration of family, memory, and the passage of time, reflecting Mary's deep understanding of human psychology shaped by her two decades as a clinical therapist. Her work at Yale Child Study and as a mental health consultant for the State of Connecticut has imbued her characters with an authenticity and emotional resonance that transcends mere entertainment.
MICHAEL POLLACK | PRODUCER
Michael Pollack has held leadership positions for more than 35 years in the legal, financial, and entertainment industries. Michael is the founder and former President of a litigation support firm that is today part of an international group of companies. He has held directorship positions for more than a dozen financial institutions that are both private and publicly held. Specializing for decades in M&A and Turnaround Management, he has spearheaded tens of billions of dollars of financing in commercial real estate, business, and entertainment-related transactions. Stage and screen projects in which Michael has played an integral role in financing and/or producing have grossed more than $2 billion at the box office.
PRODUCERS
JEAN-FRANÇOIS CAVELIER | PRODUCER
Jean-François Cavelier, originally from Paris, France, has over 33 years of experience in the combination of international Film and TV Sales/Distribution and Production. He was the Domestic and International Distribution Consultant for Comerica Bank (Los Angeles), Liberty International (Los Angeles), Pueblo (Geneva, Switzerland), and Syrena (Warsaw, Poland) on the financing side and held various Executive positions for worldwide film and television distribution companies in Hollywood before consulting with several clients both in the US, Latin America, France, and China. Cavelier has handled world sales of countless titles, active in the acquisition and distribution of media content in Mainland China and Latin America as well as in the distribution of Hollywood content to the global markets.
Cavelier turned his full attention to production in 2017, co-producing Jean-Michel Cousteau's "Wonders of the Sea", a feature documentary narrated by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also acted as a Producer for "Air Strike," the biggest budget feature film ever produced in China, negotiating the hiring of Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson. In 2020, Cavelier co-founded a production outfit in Los Angeles with his producing partner Ghizlane S. Morlot called Countess Films, which focuses primarily on feature film projects that allow for women’s voices to be heard while creating opportunities to tell more inclusive stories.