That Cold Day in the Park

Frances is a lonely woman who inherits her late parents' Vancouver apartment and seeks connection through care that gradually becomes controlling. She invites the mute boy into her home and forms a rising attachment, speaking for him and shaping his life. Her actions cross from nurturing to possessive, culminating in a dangerous intrusion into another's autonomy.

Nina is Frances's older sister who lives on a houseboat and participates in the makeshift arrangement with the boy. She shares cannabis-laced cookies with them and provides a sense of camaraderie within the morally murky plan. She acts as a catalyst and accomplice, blurring lines between sisterly loyalty and reckless curiosity.

A nineteen-year-old who can speak but often chooses to be mute, he becomes the focal point of Frances's attachment. He moves between rooms and spaces with a calm, observant presence, acting as a catalyst for the adults' actions. His nonverbal moments heighten tension and reveal the fragility of consent within the escalating situation.

Nina's boyfriend, Nick is an adult presence who becomes aware of the boy's situation and interacts with Frances and Nina. He serves as a witness to the evolving dynamic and participates in the broader social circle surrounding Frances. His responses anchor the group’s moral ambiguity and complicate Frances's attempts at control.

Sylvia is a prostitute recruited into the boy's room, becoming a victim of Frances's escalating actions. Her presence intensifies the film's examination of vulnerability and exploitation. The act of violence against her marks a brutal turning point in Frances's manipulation of others.

A doctor from Frances's social circle who accompanies her at one point and makes romantic advances, highlighting the theme of aging desire and inappropriate pursuit. His presence underscores the broader social pressures and the complexity of relationships in Frances's world.