This is a well-told tale of a NJ housewife (Lili Taylor) who aspires to become educated. Reading science magazines that she picks up at the supermarket marks the start, leading to night classes to earn her GED – an effort her domineering husband disapproves of. To get what she wants/needs in her life, she throws the bum out, despite having two adolescent children to feed and no job to support them. Part of her learning includes the discovery that she is attracted to her best friend Claire (Courtney Love) in a sexual way. It’s not “Brokeback Mountain,” but it does offer a fascinating glimpse into the development of of a lesbian relationship and the effects it might have on family and friends. Watch for the two “remote control” scenes. They kind of sum up the director’s POV: whether you are gay or straight, relationships are never easy to maintain.