September

Lane is a delicate, introspective woman who has recently attempted suicide and retreated to a Vermont country house to recover. She is entangled in a love triangle, loving Peter while Peter loves Stephanie, and she must navigate her mother's provocative presence. The mounting pressure exposes her vulnerability, yet she shows strength as she confronts painful memories and contends with a future beyond the house.

Peter is a struggling writer whose charm masks self-interest. He becomes the focal point of Lane's affections and is entangled with Stephanie as well. He confesses to Stephanie that he has long desired her, and later tells Lane that he and Stephanie have deep feelings for each other, creating a powerful complication. His actions—admission, rejection, and flirtation—propel the emotional drama while masking his own insecurities.

Diane is Lane's brassy, controlling mother and former actress who seeks to control the narrative around her life and family. She pushes for a biography to secure her legacy while manipulating others with charm and bravado. Her behavior and hidden past culminate in the accusation that she shot her lover, revealing a latent ruthlessness beneath her public glamour.

Howard is a neighbor and French teacher who is openly in love with Lane. He is often inebriated, his feelings culminating in a drunken confession that intensifies the night's emotional fever. His unreciprocated affection reveals his vulnerability and impatience, contributing to the party's volatile mood.

Stephanie is Lane's best friend, visiting to escape her husband. She becomes involved with Peter, while Lane and Peter struggle with their feelings for each other. She experiences guilt about Peter's advances and ultimately wrestles with what to do after his confession and the attempted seduction of her. She remains a supportive presence while grappling with the moral complexities of the situation.

Lane's stepfather, a physicist, is the calm, rational counterweight to the house's emotional storms. His scholarly demeanor contrasts with the performers' dramatic lives and he remains a steady presence amidst the unfolding tensions.

A neighbor who participates in the social circle surrounding the house, underscoring the film's small-town atmosphere and the everyday scrutiny of private lives.

A neighbor whose quiet presence and observant nature provide an external viewpoint on the home's drama and the community's tacit judgments.

Another neighbor within the social circle, contributing to the setting's sense of community tension and social expectations.