Laura Linney attended the Screen Actors Guild Awards

By contrast, her brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo) is an unreliable drifter - ill-equipped to stand on his own two feet.

When Terry unexpectedly arrives back in Scotsville, Sammy is delighted. But it does not take five minutes for their contrasting lifestyles to be upturned by the influence of the other.

With Terry around to take care of Rudy, Sammy rebels against the constraints of life she has chosen for herself.

Sammy throws herself into an uncharacteristic adulterous affair with her bank manager boss, Brian (Broderick). She also smokes pot with Terry.

Terry, on the other, becomes a mentor to Rudy, and for the first time in his life finds that he cares about someone other than himself.

You Can Count On Me is no Hollywood blockbuster cinematically.

There are a few suspect camera shots, including a scene with the boom bobbing in and out of the picture.

What makes this film stand head and shoulders above other small productions is Lonergan's keen insight into sibling relationships.

There are stunning performances from the entire cast, who wrap you up in their complex and intricate characters.

Between Sammy and Terry, there is love, humour, anger, resentment and an almost blind faith in each other.

Lonergan remains faithful to his perceptive remit and does not succumb to an earth-shattering conclusion.

Instead he finds a way for life to carry on regardless - as we all know it inevitably will.