East of Sunset Synopsis

"Special mention has to be given to the soundtrack of Tom Waits . . . in fact, the soundtrack should get credit as a co-star.." - CalgaryMovies.com

This is a dark romance about two substance-abusing lovers who drift through a dreamy malaise of alternating numbness and clarity. Inspired by their newfound passion yet plagued by addiction, denial and self-defense, the two struggle to define their values and selves.

This angst-ridden tale is set in the Silverlake section of Los Angeles.It deftly communicates the space in which our confused lovers dwell. Built up in a stylistically minimal fashion around covers of Tom Waits songs from between 1973 and 1983, East of Sunset tells of the understated romance that unfolds between a young pill-poppingteacher and a bartender who is just getting over a heroin habit--sort of. Carley (Emily Stiles) is a young LA woman still grieving over her father's death; she finds solace in the arms of Jim (Jimmy Wayne Farley).

Their time together brings each a kind of redemption, while their relationship remains plagued by the perils of addiction. Carley becomes Jim's muse, but when he begins to receive recognition for his work, he teeters on the brink of relapse. The moody score features artists such as Lydia Lunch, Pete Shelley, Alex Chilton, The Wedding Present, Dave Alvin, rugstore, and many others.