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List Price: $24.95 | | Label: WOLFE VIDEO
Salesrank: 21757
Released: September 29, 2009 |
| Our Price: $16.45 |
| Used Price: $35.11 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Steam tells the stories of three very different women, whose lives are linked only by the steam room at the local gym. The women seem stuck in life. They are unable to overcome what is keeping them from growing and thriving in their lives, until each embarks on a relationship that will lead them to themselves.
Celebrated veteran actor Ruby Dee (American Gangster) plays Doris, a lonely widower who is in deep mourning for her husband. She has spurned her old church community, where once she sang and played piano. Unexpectedly, Doris finds a new love when she meets the outgoing August. But her new happiness is immediately threatened by August s family, who suspect her of being a gold digger.
Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club, High Art) plays Laurie, a soccer mom whose ex-husband has not only hooked up with a much younger women, but who is also shamelessly trying to turn their son against her. The bitter divorce and custody battle has very much dampened Laurie s spirits, but her life is revived when she gets involved with a much younger man. Chelsea Handler (The Chelsea Handler Show) plays Jacky, Laurie s best girlfriend, who comically encourages Laurie every step of the way in this risky relationship.
And Kate Siegel (The O.C.) plays Elizabeth, a college co-ed who is living on campus, but is still very much dominated by her strict parents, who live nearby and demand that she attend church with them every Sunday. In her Gender Studies class, Elizabeth meets and falls for the fiery activist Niala (Reshma Shetty of USA s Royal Pains). When the two women become lovers, Elizabeth must face her parent s wrath head on.
Steam Reviews:
Good story 
2009-11-30 - If you've seen "Playing by Heart" you'll enjoy this film.
It's touching and sweet.
It will make you laugh and cry.
The acting was strong.
The story was easy to follow and kept my
attention throughout the film.
Are you kidding me? 
2009-11-20 - This movie is 3 short stories in one, with scenes from a steam room used as the story dividers. The first story regarding the older widowed woman is my favorite story of the 3. It is heartwarming, touching, and the only story which I could relate to. The second story involves a single divorced woman with no job, no self esteem, and a mentally abusive ex-husband. This story made no impact upon me as the actors/actresses were sloppy and their dialogue was juvenile. The third story involves a 20-something college student who is trying to break free from her parents as well as enter her first lesbian relationship. The actors who portrayed her parents were so awful, and their lines so scripted, that they were a joke. In every scene that the parents were in, I didn't listen to the dialogue because I was distracted by the dad's robotic voice.
I originally was going to give the movie no stars, but decided to give 1 star because of Ruby Dee's performance.
"When Does The Steam Start To Work?" ~ Melting Away Life's Problems One Bead of Sweat At A Time 
2009-10-22 - Synopsis: Three women differing in age, race and gender preference find themselves sharing time and space in a steam bath at a local gym. They are: Doris (Ruby Dee) a 60 plus black woman trying to come to grips with the recent death of her husband, Laurie (Ally Sheedy) a 42 year old divorcee and Mother wondering if love and romance has passed her by and Elizabeth (Kate Siegel) passive but rebellious college student fighting to break free from her parents and Catholic upbringing to embrace a lifestyle of her own choosing. As you might expect, as their individual stories unfold and are shared within the confines of the steam bath they discover that maybe they aren't so different after all.
The 2008 movie 'Steam' is a watchable though overall unoriginal chick flick containing the necessary elements expected in this genre of film. The older, experienced wise woman to point the way, the 40 something, attractive but aging divorcee attempting to rediscover her inner beauty and start again and the young, inexperienced girl awakening to an unexpected sexuality that challenges the beliefs of family and faith. The usual grist for the mill. If you fit into one of the three categories mentioned you'll most likely enjoy the film. Otherwise I'm no so sure.
Steam - Very Surprised 
2009-09-07 - I absolutely loved this movie. The variety in couples, actors and actresses made it very appealing, and the storylines were very entertaining. I laughed a lot during this movie, and am highly recommending to friends and family.
Three Women
2009-07-22 - "Steam"
Three Women
Amos Lassen
Three very different women whose lives come together at the steam room of their local gym is the subject of the new film, "Steam" (Wolfe Releasing). Each of the women is at a place in her life where it seems as if nothing new is happening. The women seem to have stopped growing and it is not until each of the women becomes involved in a relationship do they finally come into their own. This is a women's movie and what it does is get them to talk about the things in their lives that make them who they are.
Doris (Ruby Dee) is a widow who is lonely and is mourning her husband's death. She was once an active church member but she no longer participates. When she meets August, she finds herself finding happiness again but that is shattered bu August's family who think she is just trying to use August for money.
Laurie (Ally Sheedy) is a "soccer mom" whose husband has been having an affair with a younger woman while attempting to turn Laurie's son against her. A bitter divorce ensued and Laurie is disheartened by it and the custody battle. Her life takes a turn when she becomes involved with a younger man. Laurie is encouraged throughout by her best friend, Jacky (Chelsea Handler).
Elizabeth (Kate Siegel) is a college student who lives on campus but her parents still dominate her life. They live close and demand that Elizabeth accompany them to church every Sunday. Trying to breakaway, Elizabeth meets Niala (Reshma Shetty) in her gender studies class. The two women fall in love and Elizabeth is forced to face her parents' wrath.
The acting is superb throughout and the cast is wonderful. Everything about the film is excellent and Dee and Siegel shine. The story is realistic and the direction by Kate Schnicker is perfect.
