Popcorn Reviewss

White thumbnail popcorn reviewss
popcorn reviewss banner
White thumbnail popcorn reviewss

Family Therapy

Farhad Dalal
By-
Farhad Dalal
Rating
3.5 Star popcorn reviewss

Introduction

In an early scene in the Slovene film Family Therapy, you are introduced to a few members of a family that literally continue to ride through even while ignoring a roadside accident. This little scene explains a lot of things – one being that the family belonging to the higher strata of the society is less receptive to the presence of others from the lower strata of the society, while being ignorant of their problems too. But through the course of the film, another layer peels off signifying that the family is ignorant of their own problems too. The beauty of the Tribeca Film Festival is that I am getting some wonderful opportunities to witness films from around the world, and Family Therapy would actually account for one of the most unique black comedies that I have witnessed this year. It is almost like a social satire masked in the mould of a comedy which is subtle and nuanced while having a lot to say. So then does Family Therapy manage to impress, let’s find out.

Story & Screenplay

Family Therapy follows the story of a seemingly perfect family whose lives are disrupted when a 25 year old Julian joins the clan, thereby opening a can of worms. The story here is unique with its narrative almost being absurd in many ways while attempting to be a black comedy with an underlying layer of a satire. The uniqueness here is also situational with respect to the characters that are wild in their own respective ways while presenting a polished side to the world. The screenplay standing at a shade above two hours transitions from being a black comedy to a more conventional drama of redemption, but the route that it takes is completely wild and absurd(ofcourse, in a good way).

The opening scene of the character of Julian being received at the airport itself is hilarious and sets the ball rolling for the rest of the drama to follow. So you are introduced to a privileged family who continue to remain unaffected even by the news of migrants playing over the radio. They are less receptive to change which is where the first conflict lies when Julian enters the scene. He is instantly looked down upon by Olivia and a fiercely disconnected Agata even as the viewers get to know that Julian is in fact Alexander’s child from a previous relationship. Sparks fly when the family are privy to a few other strangers that they refer to as ‘Refugees'(this is particularly relevant given that the drama is staged near the Italy-Slovenia border). And it says a lot when their bedrooms have looks too.

The drama relies heavily on imageries right throughout the narrative. The imageries are at times reflective of the mindset of the characters as well as adding a sense of dichotomy in their lives. For instance, the family is shown to stay in a glass house – a symbol of perfection but also fragility, something that the family would be experiencing soon with the arrival of Julian. The family itself is less receptive to changes around them, and so they do not allow ‘nature’ to enter their premises, in a way. This is represented by a rabbit which is eventually put out of its pity, a cute dog that eventually spells trouble, and a deer which is a silent spectator just like Julian. The elements of black comedy are restricted to the situations that the characters find themselves in, while each character is on a journey of their own that has a strong undercurrent of a social satire.

The story slowly transitions towards being a conventional drama(the story is divided into chapters), with the final chapter titled as ‘Redemption for Beginners’. I did feel that the drama did minutely falter at this juncture because the absurdity of the drama had to be equated with a coming of age tale, with each character having individual arcs. This wasn’t an easy task given that the viewers didn’t have enough time to invest in these transitions that felt a little sudden and abrupt at the end of the day. But there is a strong sense of comedy that continues to allow you to invest in the drama in a screenplay that is unique in many ways.

Dialogues, Music & Direction

The dialogues are a combination of being witty and absurd, and the lines go perfectly in sync with the mood of the drama. The BGM and the creative decision to use a symphony of an opera was interesting one, and as it turned out, the notes elevate the drama by allowing the absurdity of the drama to reach a crescendo. The cinematography captures some beautiful frames with incredible wide shots that make for a wonderful watch. The editing is crisp and sharp while seldom stalling the flow of the drama. Director Sonja Prosenc does an incredible job in tapping into the zone of a social satire by adding an interesting bunch of characters and creating situations for them to completely let loose. The black comedy is subtle but efficient wherein the director is able to control the madness and chaos in the drama, almost like a breeze. The direction is quite good here.

Performances

The performances are excellent by the ensemble cast. Mila Bezjak as Agata represents a character which is confused about her likes and dislikes. And she portrays this sentiment really well. Katarina Stegnar as Olivia is a character wishing for escapism(her brief affair with Julian notably suggests that) while also fearing a change, and she portrays her vulnerability really well. Alicho Schneider as Julian has a pleasant personality onscreen and is perhaps the most accepting and forthcoming amongst all characters. And he does a wonderful job. Marco Mandic as Alexander represents a character with a baggage of chaos that reflects in his weird persona(one of them being of winning a contest for his family to travel in space). This absurdity is portrayed wonderfully well in what was an insanely funny act.

Conclusion

As a part of our Tribeca Film Festival coverage, Family Therapy is a searing social satire masked as a hilarious black comedy that makes for one of the most unique movie watching experiences this year.

Latest Posts

error: Content is protected !!