Uncaged Summer

A newly divorced 39-year-old embarks on a journey of self-discovery in this heartfelt contemporary from Abedi (Shadow). After Avalie Monfared’s 13-year marriage to her high school sweetheart ends in cheating and betrayal, Avalie is uprooted. After briefly moving back in with her parents, she’s determined to redirect her life. Ignoring the protective advice of her traditional Persian relatives, who encourage her to remarry as quickly as possible, Avalie sets out on a summer mission to learn more about herself and about men, while bouncing around glamorous L.A. zip codes and sleeping on her friends’ couches. What ensues is a wonderfully witty chronicle of awkward first dates, with Avalie slowly coming to understand what makes a relationship work, guided along the way by a supportive network of friends. Though the lack of a strong central love story will disappoint diehard romance fans, Abedi’s emotionally charged portrait of what it takes to heal from heartache resonates. It’s an uplifting ode to self-love. Agent: Lesley Sabga, Seymour Agency. (Apr.)