After spending most of the week at the festival watching films where black bodies were shot, beaten and hunted, Stella Meghie’s The Weekend was a much-needed breath of fresh air. A comedy about relationships, specifically the ways we often put our hearts on hold for those who don’t deserve it, the film is immensely charming and relatable.

Planning to celebrate her friend’s birthday with a weekend retreat to her mother’s bed and breakfast, Zadie’s (Sashee Zamata) relaxing trip is anything but when her friend and ex-boyfriend Bradford (Tone Bell), decides to bring his current girlfriend Margo (DeWanda Wise) along as well. A stand-up comedian, and unable to contain her acerbic wit, Zadie is less than subtle about her dislike for Margo. The weekend excursion only gets further complicated when Aubrey (Y’lan Noel), a handsome and recently single man from Montreal, checks into the B&B and immediately catches Zadie’s eye.

Through their interactions over the course of four days, jealousy and tensions arise as each guest is harbouring unresolved issues that need to be addressed. For Zadie in particular, this means deciding whether what she longs for is what she really needs.

Similar to her wonderful debut film Jean of the Joneses, Meghie constructs a sharp comedic portrait of a woman learning to take charge of her own destiny. Zadie’s self-absorbed nature is the source of both humour and reflection in the film. By sprinkling poignant moments with Zadie’s mother (the always wonderful Kym Whitely), Meghie subtly shows how we often gets so consumed with the notion of what love is, that we often miss the chance, even if it is fleeting, to revel in love when opportunity stares us in the face.

Featuring strong performances from the ensemble cast, Sasheer Zamata’s infectious portrayal proves she is deserving of more leading roles, The Weekend is an absolute joy to watch.