Hot Water marks the first film of hopefully many that I’ll cover in a formal capacity, which feels fitting as it also serves as the directorial debut of Ramzi Bashour. On this showing, I very much hope he goes on to make many more feature length films, as this mother-son road trip is a real delight.

Hot Water follows Layal (Lubna Azabal), a struggling lecturer at Indiana University who is tightly wound and constantly stressed, made worse by her attempt to quit smoking. It’s not only the irritating students testing her patience, but also the endless phone calls from her unwell mother back in Lebanon, and most of all her US raised teenage son Daniel (Daniel Zolghadr), who is expelled from school and close to failing for a third time after getting into a fight following a hockey game.

A solution appears in the form of her estranged ex-husband Anton (Gabe Fazio), who offers to take Daniel into his home in California so he can finally graduate and move forward with his life. With few alternatives, Layal reluctantly agrees. However, because of Daniel’s injuries from the fight, flying isn’t possible, leaving them facing a mammoth cross-country drive instead.

What Hot Water does best is tap into something deeply relatable for any mother or son lucky enough to watch it. Early on, Layal tells Daniel to say goodbye to the house he was raised in. It’s a small, subtle line, but one my own mum said to me when we left our family home. That same authenticity runs throughout the film in the various tellings off only a mother can deliver, whether it’s trying to ground a 19 year old or reminding them to put their seatbelt on. You can feel the care that’s gone into building this relationship.

Of course, material like this only lands if the performances match it, and here Azabal and Zolghadr are simply excellent. Their chemistry feels completely natural. They play off each other like genuine family, with the kind of quick witted banter you’d expect, but it also shows in the quieter details, the looks and reactions that reveal a deep mutual care. It genuinely caught me off guard at times and leads to several wonderfully sincere moments.

The biggest surprise is how funny the film turns out to be. It begins with smaller, recognisable humour that mothers and sons will especially appreciate, then grows into proper laugh out loud moments sprinkled throughout the journey.

The craftsmanship behind the film is clear. The cinematography beautifully captures the natural landscapes of the United States as they travel across the country. The still images taken on a disposable camera are lovely touches, and the music choices consistently enhance the story. Every detail feels carefully considered.

What may hold Hot Water back for some viewers is the pacing. I was fully engaged from start to finish, but others may find parts of the journey a little slow. There is one major emotional blow up that doesn’t quite hit as strongly as the rest, though it does underline how flawed we are as people and how far we all are from perfect.

Hot Water isn’t just another road trip film, even if the genre is well travelled. It’s a heartfelt story about family, changing relationships, and the reality that the choices we make along the way always carry consequences.