‘Concussion’ Puts the Ho in a Ho-Hum Household

“Concussion,” opening in theaters Oct. 4, is an engrossing film about a mid-life crisis that rocks a long-term marriage. That the marriage happens to be between two women gives the film a unique twist, but even that pales to the way one of the women decides to spice up her ho-hum household.

Feeling stuck in a stagnant marriage, Abby, played by Robin Weigart, gives her life a jolt by becoming a rather picky call girl. She stipulates that she meet her same-sex “clients” for coffee and conversation before exchanging currency for sex.

Written and directed by Stacie Passon and produced by veteran filmmaker Rose Troche, the story follows a designer-turned-housewife who begins to resent her comfortable, upscale home life and the white-collar wife who neglects her needs. Her transformation into a “sexpert” makes for an erotically cerebral film.

A typical scenario for an affair begins when someone in a long-term marriage gets smacked upside the head by reality and decides to stray. In “Concussion,” the reality check isn’t so subtle. Abby takes gets hit in the head by a baseball delivered by the couple’s son, which becomes the catalyst for her to plot the drastic change in her life.

“Concussion,” which premiered at Sundance, is Passon’s first feature film. She’s previously worked as a commercial producer and director for Warner Music Group, Donna Karan, IBM and Sony Music.

The film is fortified by the performances of an excellent cast, including Weigart (Sons of Anarchy, Deadwood), Maggie Siff (Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy), Daniel London, Ben Shenkman, and Julie Fain Lawrence.

For gay couples who’ve been arguing for the right to marry and now have it (in some places), “Concussion” makes it clear that whether you are straight or gay, you’re signing up for better or worse, emotionally, financially and physically.