Family Obligations

A lot of independent films begin with good intentions but stall in story problems or uneven performances. This film engages you in its story and never pulls you away from its world and its characters. It helps tremendously that it is anchored by its main performers realistic, human interactions. This world these characters inhabit feels real.

Since the synopsys for this movie is extremely vague, I will start the review by writing a proper one: The main character's dad dies, and he takes care of the funeral. His father's house must be sold, while he is dealing with cleaning up the house, he gets a call that leads to him reconnecting with his uncle who he didn' speak to in years. His uncle is sick, so he helps him out by taking him to doctor's appointments and befriends a girl living in the same building as his uncle.

Thoughts: The movie had several moments that made me laugh, it mostly utilizes awkward humor. The main character (Peter) is robotic but we slowly find out more about him as the movie progresses. I would say this movie is unique, does not utilize clichés. It becomes more serious in the second half, but delivers a satisfying ending. I would say it is worth watching.

A good example of independent film done well. The characters and story unfold without any tricks or magic. The heart and humor shine through without any distraction.

The story could have been very touching, and the characters very deep. Instead, we get a romantic comedy that is thinly disguised as a family drama. The technical aspects are very homemade quality. There are many shots that fringes severely that even footage shot on a mobile phone would look better. There is another shot that you can see the edge of the filter on the lens as well. Overall, this may be fine for a student project, but not as a theatrical release.

An honest look at family life for those who didn't have it easy with their families. An awkward and realistic ride through coming to terms with the people in your life with humor and an ending that reminds us why we care.