The Ambient Temperature of Love

The Ambient Temperature of Love explores the width, breadth and depths of Love – virtues such as compassion, giving, trust, forgiveness, fearlessness, hope and faith. It aims to convince the viewer that true healing is possible no matter what the circumstances.

The film revolves around Dr, Rebecca Stern, a 40-year-old Los Angeles based psychotherapist, with a spiritual bent. She is highly recommended by her peers and other medical professionals because of the remarkable results she obtains for her patients although she gives full credit to them for ‘doing the work’ referring to herself as “just a guide.”

She is long divorced and totally immersed in bringing effective and often dramatic healing to her patients using not only cognitive/traditional therapy but also spiritual practices.

The film is focused on the ‘healing’ of five patients. They are:

Cheryl Lewis: The single black mother of a 12-year-old girl, Jessica, who was kidnapped by what is thought to be a human trafficking ring. She is distraught and racked with guilt over not being able to keep her daughter safe.

(she ultimately learns self-forgiveness and to trust that her daughter will be found)

James Braddac. An FBI agent who coincidentally is assigned to the task force investigating the human trafficking kidnapping of Jessica Lewis. As one of those cases that leads to obsession, his personal life and marriage are breaking down and he begins taking opioids, stolen from evidence lockers.

(he ultimately learns to live more in the now and ultimately and successfully completes a rehab program)

Barbara O’Donnel: Adult daughter of an abusive father who is starting to suffer from dementia, Barbara is torn between fulfilling the obligation of being the caregiver to her father and dealing with the tortuous memories of the physical, sexual and verbal abuse she suffered at his hands as a child.

(she ultimately learns about acceptance and forgiveness and moving on by living in the now)

Chico and Chan: Hispanic and Asian gay couple Chico and Chan battle insecurity, infidelity and jealousy in their dramatic and explosive existence as a musical duo. Chico’s talents as a singer-songwriter are being noticed while Chan lives jealously in his shadow.

(they ultimately learn the concept of self-esteem/confidence and trust)

Father Brennan Charles: A retired Roman Catholic priest who abused many children during his tenure as a priest being shunted from parish to parish until he was cornered, bailed out by the Diocese. He is racked with guilt and remorse.

(he ultimately learns the concept of acceptance of his past and self-forgiveness)

Comic relief for the film comes courtesy of Rebecca’s receptionist, Lucy, a half-blooded Cree who was born on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in Montana, and whose cynical observations, comments and feistiness add much needed insight and levity in the midst of the heaviness of the sessions and relationships. Lucy loves Rebecca and is also the only friend Rebecca has.

The viewer believes each patient segment will end separately but towards the end of the movie we begin to see, via flashbacks, that the traumas suffered by each of Rebecca’s patients represent unresolved traumas in her life.

During Cheryl Lewis’ last sessions we learn that Rebecca lost her three-year-old son in a pool drowning when Rebecca left the backyard for ‘just a minute’ which ultimately led to her marriage breakup.

During James Braddac’s last sessions we learn that after Rebecca’s son’s death she abused alcohol and opioids as part of her downhill slide and presently she is dangerously close to overdosing.

During Chico and Chan last sessions we learn via flashbacks about several abusive relationships Rebecca attracted into her life after her son’s death.

During Barbara O’Donnel’s last sessions we learn that Rebecca herself, as a young teen, was abused by her uncle through marriage while her parents were aware of the abuse and chose to do nothing due to their fear of this abuser.

Rebecca has finally reached the point of no return. Overwhelmed and filled with regret and grief, without anybody to confide in, she drains a bottle of vodka and takes all the opioids she possesses. The only unhealed person in this film has taken her own life.

The tremendous progress made by each of her five clients is revealed in the final scenes. Lucy, knowing Rebecca has no family or friends, invites them all to attend a memorial where the camera slowly pans to:

Cheryl Lewis, who is holding and hugging her recently found daughter standing next…

to James Braddac who has his wife with him;

to Father Brennan Charles, who will be turning himself in to the police, who Lucy asked to eulogize Rebecca and who has a look of extreme peace on his face;

to Chico and Chan who perform a special song they wrote for this memorial;

to Barbara O’Donnel who stands next to her father sitting in a wheelchair with her hand rubbing his back; and finally…

to Lucy who is weeping profusely having lost the selfless healer she loved so much.