The Bitter Ash (1963)

Plot

Des leads a monotonous life, caught between a tedious job and his girlfriend Julie's insistence on marriage under the pretense of pregnancy, hoping to escape work. Meanwhile, Laurie is trapped in an unfulfilling marriage to Colin, an aspiring writer who shuns employment. Their paths cross when Des visits a terminally ill coworker, leading to a spontaneous drive with Laurie. She invites him to a rent party at their home, where the Vancouver counter-culture scene unfolds. Tensions rise when Colin discovers Des and Laurie in a compromising situation, shattering their fragile lives.