Booze, blood and fireworks converge in this offbeat romance set in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Michael (Matt Palumbo) is an aimless alcoholic on break from his teaching job, currently selling blood in exchange for hip flasks of bourbon. His new (old) house, on a sinking foundation, serves as a resting place for his head and his still-packed possessions. Through the haze he manages to mentor Andy (Tyler Chetta), a latchkey kid with an inquisitive mind and a pyromaniac's interest in blowing shit up. A regular trip to the local karaoke bar leads to a chance meeting with the feisty Ashley (Christina DeRosier). Her tryst with Michael becomes an odd-couple relationship that mirrors young Andy's previous female tribulations. Writer-director Jason Affolder, also an accomplished photographer, contributes an expert eye and sense of place that's rarely seen in mainstream cinema. Having lived in New Orleans for years, he presents a city we don't see in news reports: a shrunken but vibrant and sprawling metropolis filled with characters no different from people you already know. Great chemistry between Palumbo and DeRosier, a delightful setting on the bayou, and a cinematic vision reminiscent of early David Gordon Green are enough to make you think summer is coming a bit early this year. -- David Gorgos