Certain Women 2016

In Livingston, Montana, attorney Laura Wells is grappling with a disgruntled client named Fuller, who has been repeatedly visiting her office for the past eight months. After suffering a workplace injury that has left him disabled, Fuller finds himself unemployed and frustrated. Despite Laura’s advice to seek another lawyer, he is resistant. When Fuller meets with the new attorney, he hears what Laura had explained previously: even though the company is at fault for his injuries, he cannot pursue further legal action because he previously accepted a small settlement offer from them.

On his journey back home, Fuller has a heated argument with his wife and ends up getting kicked out of their car. In desperation, he flags down Laura for a ride back to Livingston, revealing his dark thoughts about wanting to shoot those responsible for his plight.

That evening, Laura receives a harrowing call from the police informing her that Fuller has taken a security guard hostage at his former workplace. With trepidation, Laura agrees to enter the building to negotiate with Fuller. Upon finding him, she uncovers his employee file at his behest, which reveals the details of how he was cheated out of his rightful settlement. As Fuller contemplates releasing the guard, he asks Laura to mislead the police about his demands, but she opts for honesty and informs them of his location, resulting in his arrest.

Parallel to Fuller’s story, we meet Gina and Ryan Lewis, a couple constructing their rural home with their teenage daughter. Tensions arise as Gina feels Ryan frequently undermines her decisions, particularly during an encounter with Albert, an elderly man they hope to convince to sell them sandstone. Gina stealthily records their conversation, leading to a debate in their car about whether to go through with taking the sandstone after Albert reluctantly agrees to their proposal.

Meanwhile, Jamie, a ranch hand living in solitude, stumbles upon an evening class on education law taught by Beth Travis. Intrigued, Jamie attends each week despite her lack of interest in the subject. Their bond deepens when Jamie brings her horse to class one day, but she is devastated to learn that Beth has quit shortly thereafter. Determined, Jamie ventures into Livingston to find her. After a bittersweet encounter, she leaves feeling empty and ultimately succumbs to exhaustion, falling asleep at the wheel and driving into a field.

As the story unfolds, Laura continues her visitations with Fuller in prison, bringing a sense of understanding despite the circumstances. Gina enjoys a barbecue with friends, receiving appreciation for her hard work, as she takes a moment to smile at the sandstone. Meanwhile, Jamie persists with her daily routine at the ranch, navigating her own bittersweet journey through the complexities of life in Livingston.