78. In The Family; movie review

 

IN THE FAMILY

Cert TBA

169 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

The Patrick Wang season is a curiosity because, while they have common strands, his movies are so different.

I couldn't get on with A Bread Factory, saw glimmers in The Grief Of Others but really felt the pain in the heartbreaking and enthralling drama, In the Family.

It is just a shame it is so damned long.

Wang has said that audiences need to be given the opportunity to be patient and be allowed to immerse themselves in movies such as this.

I fear that is a cop out. This was his chance to create a picture which appealed to the masses. He had the premise of a very engaging story but people will be put off by it being nearly three hours.

Wang himself plays the central figure of In The Family - property designer Joey Williams who lives with a male partner, Cody, (Trevor St. John) and the latter's young son, Chip (Sebastian Banes).

They are a happy, well-adjusted unit and family and friends appear to recognise that.

But after Cody dies in a car accident, Joey is left out in the cold and facing a custody battle which, astonishingly it appears he can't win.

In The Family brings parental rights to the fore as well as the importance of writing wills just in case the worst happens.

It is unusually subtle, almost respectful with regard to the intimacy of relationships but this deft handling only added to its depth and enjoyment,

Wang is also excellent in the lead role - with a drawl which sounds uncannily like Matthew McConaughey's, he makes gentle persuasion an art.

I was on his side so much I wanted to scream and by its end I was wiping away a tear.

It seems really odd to me that his other movies don't have nearly the same focus and, consequently, not as much impact.

Reasons to watch: Heartbreaking family drama

Reasons to avoid: Far too long

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes (off-screen)

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalised it in all fifty states, and required states to honour out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges.

The final word. Patrick Wang: “Audiences can be patient, you just gotta give them the reason to be and give them the opportunity to be. And I feel like one of those things is generally missing in movies.” Indie Wire

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