Return of the Secaucus Seven

This state-of-the-(dis)union character drama proves ultimately gentle where Sayles’s grindhouse projects go thematically and aesthetically blunt.

Preeiding the glitzy Big Chill by three years, John Sayles' first feature offers a poignant look at the reunion of 1960s activists; there's not much to look at this talking heads feature, which was shot for $40,000, but the dialogue is good.

Fresh, smart, endearing.

This film is an exquisite time capsule of New Hampshire culture circa 1980. Dig the Tretorn tennis shoes.