Sam & Kate (2022): Love, Loss, and the Messy Beauty of Second Chances

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself—and love is the only cure. 

Sam & Kate (2022) is a tender, intergenerational dramedy that explores the complexities of family, grief, healing, and unexpected love. Set in a small, familiar town full of quiet streets and emotional undercurrents, the film gently navigates the lives of two pairs—parents and their adult children—as they reckon with the past and reach toward uncertain futures.

Jake Hoffman stars as Sam, a man who’s returned home to care for his aging father, Bill—played by his real-life dad, Dustin Hoffman. While coping with loss and burnout, Sam crosses paths with Kate (Schuyler Fisk), a reserved yet spirited woman working at a bookstore and caring for her own reclusive mother, Tina (played by her actual mother, Sissy Spacek). The film’s unique casting—real parent-child duos—adds layers of authenticity and emotional depth.

The story unfolds not through dramatic events, but through small, meaningful moments: quiet conversations, failed dates, and the lingering grief that hovers around both families. As Sam and Kate slowly fall for each other, they are forced to confront their own emotional baggage, familial obligations, and personal fears about love, vulnerability, and aging.

Directed by Darren Le Gallo in his debut feature, Sam & Kate is a heartfelt meditation on how love—whether romantic or familial—can be both messy and healing. It’s a story about showing up when it’s hard, forgiving when it’s easier to run, and rediscovering joy in the ordinary. It reminds us that no matter our age or wounds, there’s always a chance to begin again.