A quarter century look into the life of a surly Maine schoolteacher (Frances McDormand), resentful at the loss of her coworker/intimate (Peter Mullan), annoyed with her doting husband (Richard Jenkins) and his equally doting affections heaped on a young employee (Zoe Kazan), and failing to understand her troubled son. Olive Kitteridge, an HBO miniseries directed by Lisa Cholodenko adapted by Jane Anderson from Elizabeth Strout's book, weaves an engrossing, well told story which, although you can appreciate its path, does not have a satisfying resolution. Old hands McDormand and Jenkins are so superb although Bill Murray, a minor but no less important late introduced character, is somewhat distracting.
*** 1/2 out of ****
