When I saw "Mandarins" at the New Hampshire Film Festival I was immediately taken by its profound and very relatable story about family dynamics. Brilliantly written and directed by Chelsie Penello, this dramedy artfully portraits the ins and outs of a dysfunctional family during a most stressful of times. Inter-generational conflict and flawed sibling relationships are all out in the open, when protagonist Olivia (Christine Chang) makes a surprise appearance at her estranged family's mother's funeral service. Even though we may initially cringe at Olivia's "inappropriate" funeral speech we actually root for her and hope that her catharsis may ultimately bring about some needed healing. Beautifully acted by all, I especially loved Sarai Koo's portrayal of Olivia's older sister who delivers some much needed comic relief. This is a film full of heart and introspection that we all - as part of our wonderfully diverse human family - can relate to.
