A woman who has achieved a lot feels worn down and returns to her childhood home seeking rejuvenation, seemingly losing sight of the fact that she is no longer a teenager. Kristen Bell portrays a 29-year-old reporter in New York City struggling with exhaustion, so she leaves for her hometown in Connecticut and takes on a former job as a lifeguard at the community pool. She reconnects with people from her past and forms connections with the young people who spend time there, which creates complications when she disregards adult responsibilities. "The Lifeguard," released in 2013, is a grounded portrayal of everyday life that combines aspects of "Lifeguard" (1976), “Summer of ’42” (1971) and "Snow Angels" (2007). The initial scenes, with their amateurish, independent film style, didn’t immediately grab me, but the narrative ultimately engaged me, making it a surprisingly enjoyable movie—a genuine find. Leigh, played by Bell, hoped to revisit her youthful sense of freedom while the teenage boys were simultaneously hoping to leave behind their ordinary surroundings in search of more significant experiences. Once you reach adulthood, that period is lost; it’s not something you can reclaim. The film feels authentic, showing both positive and negative aspects of existence. Themes of judgment, accountability, and ethics are thoughtfully examined. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 38 minutes and was filmed in Sewickley Valley, Pennsylvania, located just outside Pittsburgh. GRADE: A-

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