Freshly divorced and new to the US, Jeanne finds herself navigating the world of housemates for the first time. Madeline Mack directs “Hot Water,” a complex drama exploring social misunderstandings, power dynamics, subtle manipulation, and misogyny. Arriving in L.A. with no job or place to stay, Jeanne must act quickly, and that brings her to the home of a man named Hunter who’s renting out an available bedroom. He seems friendly, the place is decent, they chat for a bit and decide it could possibly work. It’s a promising development, but Jeanne worries that Hunter may have felt a flirtatious connection, which could make it weird. As their exchanges begin to show warning signs, the film drifts from naturalistic character study almost into the realm of horror — the delicate balance is handled deftly by Mack and its performers, Nell Teare and Hunter Cope.

Director: Madeline Mack. Starring Nell Teare and Hunter Cope. DP: Michael Lincoln. Production Designer: Isabella Mack. Editor: Ariel Shaw. Sound designer: Matt Schwartz. Colorist: Robert Crosby.