81. Charm Circle; movie review

 

CHARM CIRCLE

Cert TBA

79 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

Oh, this is brave.

Nira Burstein's family could be described as eccentric, occasionally divided and certainly victims of mental health issues.

And yet she has laid bare their lives in a feature which is so intimate that it could have caused permanent rifts.

Her camera lingers long in the chaotic home of her parents, Uri and Raya Burstein who have been together for 40 turbulent years.

Charm Circle is literally the place in the New York borough of Queens in which the couple have lived for 28 years, and gone from having a seemingly happy life to one of fragile health.

Mental illness may be the explanation for them being without work and their house being such a mess with junk, food, musical instruments or general detritus covering almost every square inch.

Meanwhile, despite being very articulate, Uri is unnecessarily rude to his wife.

The film was sparked by the announcement of her polyamorous wedding to two women which is opposed by her father on religious grounds.

It shines a light on parents who have a joyless, sexless marriage with a fractured connection to their adult children and sadness over lost ambitions.

This is in contrast to footage from the pair's younger days when Uri was a prospering estate agent and Raya was a well-paid occupational health therapist.

I was saddened that this was a family for whom smiles were restricted to videos of the past.

It is an intense, emotional portrait. Nira Burstein pulls no punches and, for that, she deserves praise but it is an uncomfortable watch.

Reasons to watch: Intimate family story

Reasons to avoid: Cringe-inducing at times

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know?  In the United States, polyamorous weddings are not legal. In Utah, the criminal punishment for polygamy has been reduced from a felony to a misdemeanour and in the town of Somerville Minnesota, polyamorous civil unions are permitted.

The final word. Nira Burstein:" From watching Charm Circle with other audiences, I’ve gathered that this movie is an opportunity for catharsis, to laugh, to cry and the myriad of emotions in-between."

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