AllMovie

Filmmaker Felix Can Groeningen's sophomore feature explores the subject of fading youth with this ensemble drama following four twenty-something friends who seem to have found success in life, but still can't help but feeling melancholy as they reflect on the past. Zwarte Kelly is living the life. A popular fixture on the New York fashion scene, the well-to-do hipster returns to her childhood home to "ask her mother something" and quickly discovers how a simple inquiry can suddenly snowball into catastrophe. Zwarte's friend Frederic is about to make the move to Brussels with his rich girlfriend, though lately he has been suffering from unexplained blackouts. Frederic is very close with Kurt, though lately Kurt seems to have his hands full dealing with his growing family and his commitment to running a modest web-shop for robo-gadgets. But not everyone's life is so full of drama. Take loafing bar owner Nick, for instance. When the stools are put up and the drinks stop flowing, Nick is happy just to enjoy a lazy day alone. When Zwarte returns home to speak with her mother, these four friends discover that no matter how hard they may try, they will never truly recapture the carefree days of youth. Later, when Frederic abandons his wife and child without explanation, Frederic and Nick set out in search of their old friend.