As “Five Nights in Maine” begins, the death of his wife Fiona (Hani Furstenberg) has stunned Sherwin (David Oyelowo) into near-immobility. Balled up on the couch, he drinks, sleeps, and drinks again, avoiding all but the most insistent responsibilities. The widower’s withdrawal into loss doesn’t just pull him away from support; it nearly strips him of kindness. He’s a jerk to those offering support; his sister (an effective Teyonah Parris, in a brief appearance) shoulders the burden of funeral prep.
An invite from Fiona’s cancer-stricken mother Lucinda (Dianne Wiest) leads to an impulsive Atlanta-to-Maine pilgrimage.