Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is a 2004 American drama film written and directed by Josh Sternfeld and starring Anthony LaPaglia, Aaron Stanford, and Mark Webber. The story focuses on the efforts of a man to interact with and relate to his sons in the years following the accidental death of his wife. Plot New Jersey landscape gardener Jim Winters is struggling to raise his sons, high school student Peter and older Gabe, as a single father. Gabe announces he is leaving home to move to Tampa, Florida, although he's vague about both his reason for doing so and what he plans to do there once he arrives. Instead of discussing his plans with his devoted girlfriend Stacey, he plans to drop her. Aware of what he has in mind, she quietly retreats from him to make it difficult for him to achieve his goal. Peter, who was in the car with his mother when she was killed in an accident five years earlier, is a rebellious, hearing-impaired underachiever doing poorly in school, despite the efforts of his teacher Mr. Bricker, who urges him to work harder to meet his potential. Jim helps new neighbor Molly Ripkin move some cartons. Later she asks him and his sons to dinner. Her invitation is the catalyst that upsets the delicate equilibrium they have been maintaining as each tries to deal with his loss and painful memories in his own way. Cast Anthony LaPaglia as Jim Winters Aaron Stanford as Gabe Winters Mark Webber as Pete Winters Michelle Monaghan as Stacey Allison Janney as Molly Ripkin Ron Livingston as Mr. Bricker Jason Fuchs as Bob Rocco Rosanio as Pete's Friend #1