A sly comedic drama about quasi-bohemians struggling (emotionally, romantically and professionally) to find their way in the world, WHEN LIFE WAS GOOD is driven by an affection for its characters, who are also friends of the debut director Terry Miles.

The film has a hazy, slightly stoned look, and is edited in a way that seems that he is eavesdropping on his characters' personalities and their personal foibles. The film centers on Brooklyn (Kristine Cofsky), a would-be actress who has returned from studying abroad to celebrate her boyfriend Ben's birthday; her long-time friend Faith (Keri Horton), an aspiring dancer who has put her career on hold to save her relationship; and budding screenwriter Casey (Casey Manderson), Faith's boyfriend. Right from the start there are signs that something is not quite right as the characters with conflicting emotions, unexpected intimacy and the demands of the real world.

The characters are all the more attractive because of their na?veté, their confusion and their refusal to put on a front merely to make their way in the world. In this funny, surprising film, one falls in love with the actors and their universal dramas. It also marks the arrival of a distinctive new voice in Canadian cinema.