Life Upside Down

In early 2020, an exhibition opening for artist Jonathan Wigglesworth unfolds in Los Angeles. He attends without his wife and meets his lover Clarissa Cranes, along with the Hasselbergs. The event is well-attended and lively, but underlying tensions hint at life-changing shifts to come.

The opening night feels buoyant as guests mingle, and the mood remains upbeat. Yet the relationships among Wigglesworth, Clarissa, and the Hasselbergs carry unspoken strain beneath the surface.

On March 16, 2020, the pandemic triggers a nationwide lockdown, forcing the main characters into near-total isolation. Wigglesworth, his wife, Clarissa, and the Hasselbergs retreat to their separate spaces, cutting back on direct contact. The abrupt confinement sets the stage for rapid emotional shifts.

The lockdown strands the group in close quarters, forcing them to redefine intimacy and boundaries. Wigglesworth and Clarissa continue their fragile connection while the Hasselbergs navigate a new routine at home. They are unsure how long the restrictions will last.

Despite physical separation, Jonathan continues his affair with Clarissa emotionally via social media and gravitates toward her. He relies on digital contact to maintain the connection that the lockdown has intensified. The dynamic becomes more complex as distance blurs into longing.

Clarissa shifts to online teaching, delivering lectures from home and adapting to remote work. She manages the workload with professional steadiness, masking personal tensions. Her online presence contrasts with the fragility of her real-life relationships.

During isolation, Jonathan struggles to sell his artwork, highlighting financial strain and creative frustration. His studio sessions feel both productive and stagnant as market conditions worsen. The pressure amplifies the emotional stakes of his relationship with Clarissa.

Paul Hasselberg is portrayed as the intellectually superior partner, and Rita seems largely unconcerned by the waning attention. The couple looks harmonious on the surface, masking deeper dissatisfaction. The isolation makes these underlying issues harder to ignore.

Towards the end of the isolation period, Jonathan becomes estranged from Clarissa and begins to reconnect with his wife. The emotional balance shifts back toward the marriage as the gap between him and Clarissa widens. The evolving loyalties set the stage for a potential reconciliation.

Clarissa distances herself further from Jonathan and finds a shy messenger she finds attractive. She throws a small party, disregards the rules of isolation, dances with him, and appears ready to let go of Jonathan.

Jonathan reconnects with his wife, closing the loop of the affair and redrawing the center of his life. The couple begins to address their marital dynamics more openly.

The Hasselbergs realize they need to address their relationship problems openly, choosing honesty over comfort. They start to communicate more directly about their needs and boundaries.