Ralph Williams

SIGNS OF LIFE stars veteran actor Arthur Kennedy as a cranky, set-in-his-ways Maine shipbuilder. Unable to keep apace with the 1980s, Kennedy is forced to close up shop. The film probes the various effects this decision has on Kennedy's employees.

Signs of Life -- A touching story of life in rural Maine, and the changes brought about by the closing of a town's small boat-building company -- on which many of the residents depended upon for a living.

When aging New England shipbuilder Owen Coughlin (Arthur Kennedy) decides to shut down his business and retire in the face of mounting competition, his actions affect his employees' lives in surprisingly unexpected ways. Beau Bridges, Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathy Bates and Mary-Louise Parker co-star in this poignant ensemble drama about small-town survival -- and making the best of a seemingly bad situation.

A touching story of life in rural Maine, and the changes brought about by the closing of a town's small boat-building company--on which many of the residents depended upon for a living.