We all know bad things can happen to good people. Gavin Heffernan's debut feature film, Expiration, demonstrates how three young people deal with a series of unfortunate circumstances during one night in Montreal. As a result of these chaotic events, each member of the trio comes to grips with such important matters as the past, friendship, death, chance, compassion, love -- and plans for the future.    

Heffernan, a twenty-three year-old Canadian, not only directed, wrote and edited Expiration, he also portrays Sam, one of the movie's key protagonists. Delivering the film's most appealing performance, Heffernan projects a vulnerability that drew me to his character and evoked my empathy early on, especially as he struggles (unsuccessfully) with a proposal to his pregnant best friend. Even though Sam doesn't love Niki (Erin Simkin), he wants to do the right thing. After leaving Niki asleep in the car while he goes to buy her some stomach medicine, the engagement ring he plans to give her is stolen. At the targeted convenience store, Sam meets Rachel (Janet Lane), a worried beauty whose bag of drugs is also taken by the robber. While Sam and Rachel join forces to find their stolen items, Niki wakes up and experiences a bizarre adventure of her own.        

All cast members, even the ones in supporting roles, do a fine job here. They avoid histrionics and make their characters appear real and natural. Nothing seems forced or false. It's refreshing to see such excellent work from a relatively unknown group of actors. I particularly enjoyed seeing Christine Heffernan, who must be Gavin's real-life mom, in a poignant sequence with her son during the first part of the movie. 

With its artistic camera shots and almost dreamlike atmosphere, Expiration boasts a unique cinematic style. A dramatic rooftop scene presents one of the most unusual and provocative situations I've seen in a movie this year. Of course, like most small independent features, this one appears a bit fuzzy around the edges. But I admire the clear message the film sends about how quickly our lives can change because of people we meet, choices we make and the luck of the draw. Most important of all, however, Expiration  introduces an impressive new filmmaker. I, for one, look forward to seeing more movies from the multi-talented Gavin Heffernan.  

(Released by Sunchaser Pictures; not rated by MPAA.)