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A friendship - no matter its duration or strength - is bound to go through a metamorphosis of sorts when one of the friends begins a new relationship. Time has to be reallocated and some friendly traditions begin to fall by the wayside. "The Travel Companion," which had its debut at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, shows how a relationship can completely drive two best friends in different directions.

Directors Alex Mallis and Travis Woods (who both co-wrote the screenplay with Weston Auburn) take a modest but often affecting approach to the dynamics of a friendship upended by a new relationship. Simon (Tristan Turner) is a documentary filmmaker who is left feeling defeated after a screening (the movie also gets the terror of a post-screening Q&A just right). Simon lives with his long-term friend Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck), who works for an airline. Simon has been Bruce's "travel companion" for some time now, which means he has enjoyed the perks of free flights as Bruce's designated companion.

After a screening, Simon invites fellow filmmaker Beatrice (Naomi Asa) out for drinks with him and Bruce. Beatrice and Bruce hit it off and begin dating and even though the relationship is in the earliest stages, Simon is worried that his status as the travel companion will be compromised when the year turns over. He uses the free flights as an excuse to capture footage around the world for his documentary.

The more time Bruce spends with Beatrice, the more worried Simon becomes about losing the free flights. He never misses an opportunity to bring it up in conversation, which begins to drive Bruce crazy. As the film progresses, Mallis and Woods subtly show the distance begin to grow between Simon and Bruce. For Simon, he tries to have their friendship be business as usual; Bruce, on the other hand, begins to distance himself.

On the surface, Simon is presented as the immature friend and Bruce is the more "grown-up" friend, who is ready for the next phase of his life. What's smart about "The Travel Companion" is the movie doesn't expect the audience to take any sides. Is Bruce a bad friend for tossing his friend off so casually and quickly after Beatrice becomes a part of his life? Is Simon really only hanging onto his friendship with Bruce so he can enjoy free flights? There's no obvious answer to either character, but it becomes obvious the free flights are a conduit for Simon not wanting to let go of his friendship with Bruce.

"The Travel Companion" is one of the most observant movies about friendship. It's hard to lose a friend but it happens to everyone. Circumstances often don't let a friendship continue and sometimes people outgrow each other. Everything "The Travel Companion" accomplishes is emphasized by a pitch-perfect final shot. It makes the film a moving experience.