Betsy Brandt takes on the role of a woman given a second chance at life in her new film, ‘The Grotto’. PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at the trailer for the movie, which marks Tony Award-winning actor Joanna Gleason’s directorial and screenwriting debut.
In the trailer, Brandt, 51, plays Alice, who is mourning the loss of her fiancé, Nick, following his tragic death by suicide. Alice is shocked to learn that Nick has left her a 50% stake in a business called The Grotto, located in Joshua Tree, California—a place she had never heard of. When she visits the business and meets its owner, unaware of Nick’s passing, Alice finds herself entangled in the business affairs and possibly discovering a new path, including the chance for love.
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Joanna Gleason, known for her acting in films like ‘Boogie Nights’ and her previous experience directing TV episodes in the 1990s, shares that ‘The Grotto’ is deeply personal. “I don’t know anyone in their late 40s or older who hasn’t questioned their life choices,” Gleason, 74, tells PEOPLE. “What happens when everything falls apart? How do you start over?”
Drawing from her own life experiences, Gleason explains, “In my 40s, I felt lost—my job ended, my marriage ended, I lost my apartment. I had to rebuild, and new people entered my life. It was up to me to take that leap of faith.”
‘The Grotto’ also stars Steve Kazee, Jonathan Del Arco, Dan Bucatinsky, and Lindsay Mendez, and is set to release in select theatres on 18th October.
–Farheen Ali