Movies

‘Morning’ is dreary

Grief comes in many forms — none subtle — in this small-scale drama about a couple dealing with the recent drowning death of their young son. Leland Orser (NBC’s “Revolution”), who wrote and directed, plays husband Mark — who initially flees his house in the morning as if he’s an illicit lover, pursued by a desperate Jeanne Tripplehorn as his wife, Alice.

The film follows both on their separate paths over the next few days, each veering from hysterical sobbing to laughter to bizarre outbursts. It often seems like an acting workshop: Behave as if you are the parent of a dead child. Familiar faces pass through — Laura Linney, Jason Ritter, Elliott Gould, Kyle Chandler, Julie White — but none gets as much screen time as their elderly housekeeper (Gina Morelli) as she plods to and from the house every day. I found her weariness contagious.