‘The Same Storm’ Review: A Starry Assembly Sheds Warm Light on the Pandemic’s Darkest Moments
Lisa Kennedy In “The Same Storm,” it’s a welcome surprise to see Elaine May appear as one of the faces in writer-director Peter Hedges’ impressively diverse and starry ensemble, who take turns contributing scenes about the challenges of life during lockdown. May portrays spiky Ruth Lipsman Berg, who hops on a teleconference with a new doctor and her home health aide. Daphne Rubin-Vega is Lupe, her concerned caregiver. Raza Jaffrey is the gentle but quite-clear physician trying to ascertain if Ruth has contracted the coronavirus. Ruth was in the scene right before this one — talking with her daughter, a webcam girl — so we’re aware she’s gotten dolled up for the doctor’s call. Like a good Jewish mother, she asked the doc if he’s single. If so, she has a daughter. Forget that in the prior scene, her call to said daughter (Mary-Louise Parker) was less than kind. Their chat quickly takes on the tone of an intervention, with Ruth getting prickly when her charm offensive doesn’t work. After Dr. Patel shows her a photo snapped by Lupe of her purple-hued toes, Irma’s mood turns ugly — and things turn sad.