Sugar Town was then shown in limited release in the United States in September of that year, before appearing at several overseas film festivals.

Liz is a neurotic film production designer who has just hired a conniving young housekeeper and would-be singer named Gwen.

Liz searches hopelessly for a decent man while Gwen commits acts of shameless cruelty in the service of her ambition.

A subplot involves guitarist Carl, who is hired to travel away from his pregnant wife by a singer with ulterior motives, just as his junkie brother emerges from rehab and comes to stay with the family.

It captures day-to-day drifting in a city without seasons, where most business meetings are so circular and unfocused it's hard to notice when they stop resulting in deals and simply exist for their own sake.