reviewing the complexity of family

REVIEW

By Jack Derwin

10/06/2014

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Jack Derwin reviews sibling rivalry on tour, family secrets and green card marriages. What these three films have in common are authentic characters navigating life as it is: messy, unconventional and uncontrollable.

 

Mistaken For Strangers       ★ ★ ★ ★

 

For those who know the feeling of living in a sibling’s shadow, you might at

least be thankful your brother isn’t a rockstar. Introducing Mistaken For

Strangers, a production that is part rock doc, part family video, yet entirely

unique.

 

It follows The National as they embark on their 2010 career defining tour,

but is entirely filmed and directed by frontman Matt Berringer’s younger

brother, Tom.

 

While the tour provides a wonderful setting for the action to unfold, it is by

no means the focus of this documentary. While Tom doesn’t quite capture

The National, he does tap into his dysfunctional, emotional relationship

with his older, successful brother.

 

The two brothers, ten years apart, are two ends of the emotional spectrum. Matt is the mature professional, only losing his temper when his brother’s laziness and casual attitude provoke him. Conversely, Tom wears his heart on his sleeve throughout the entire European tour as he exasperates his brother, band members and management.

 

As the documentary works past the brother’s fundamental differences you are confronted with two sides of the same coin. Tom is a creative who never found his niche and failed himself by this own lack of direction. Matt, on the other hand, is much more serious, a rockstar who’s finally enjoying commercial success after years of hard work.

 

What this film does so impressively is to cut through the famed image of the band, remove the typical documentation process of a band on tour and present the band through the eyes of Tom himself.

 

Instead of a neatly edited, professionally filmed documentary, we are instead presented with a far more realistic, deeply personal portrayal of family and friends, success and failure.

 

The tradeoff is worth it. Tom’s personality redeems, emboldens and shines through this directorial debut as he applies his raw honesty and modesty to the giant of fame. It is because of his personality that you can, at least partly, forgive his inane line of questioning and lack of tact. While these qualities can annoy you, just as they do his brother, you can’t help but feel empathetic for a guy who, in his mother’s words, "has never finished anything in his life".

 

It may have been a 33 year wait, but Tom finally did finish something, and the result is this enlightening, humorous and at times despairing look at the realities of family underneath the shroud of celebrity. 

 

Mistaken For Strangers

Available via Itunes for $9.99

Running Time: 92 Minutes

See It: To see Tom yell at Moby

Skip It: If you want to watch a documentary about The National

 

 

 

The Stories We Tell              ★ ★ ★

 

"Who fucking cares about our family?" pointedly asks a member of Oscar-nominated

director Sarah Polley’s at the beginning of The Stories We Tell. By the end of this

documentary, you’ll at least appreciate that your family story isn’t as entangled as

hers.

 

While Polley’s family story may seem relatively average at the beginning, family

connections are constantly reevaluated to contend with revelations regarding her

deceased mother Diane, which whom this documentary centres around.  

 

A gregarious actress, Diane’s life was as theatrical off stage as it ever was on it.

 

While originally intended as a record of family and friend’s memories of her, the documentary’s interviews uncover family secrets that transverse three decades. You’ll become fascinated as you see family members contend with the unexpected news and watch them wrestle with concepts of secrecy, memories and family.

 

The audience is taken along on their journey of discovery. It is only towards the second half of the film where family members begin to pettily remark on who they believe should dictate Diane’s memory that the film loses its focus and distracts from the excellent story at its core.

 

Overall, the greatest feature of The Stories We Tell is in its real life drama and authentic and colourful characters. Despite revelations, heartache and competing recollections, the family at the core of this heart touching story exhibit strength and humour in the face of it all.

 

 

The Stories We Tell (M)

Available via iTunes ($17.99)

Running Time: 118 Minutes

See It: To be part of someone else’s family

Skip It: If you can't stand your own for two hours

 

 

 

Chinese Puzzle                     ★ ★ ★ 1/2

 

Chinese Puzzle makes light of what could otherwise be very heavy

content; divorce, single parenthood, IVF and much more.

 

Xavier, a successful French writer, moves to New York to be with his

children after his wife falls in love with an American. The film recounts

the events leading up and proceeding his divorce, encompassing Paris

and New York. The blend of American, French and Chinese cultures

into his story demonstrates a contemporary global look at modern

love in all its forms and does so effortlessly - a testament to Cédric

Klapisch, who wrote and directed. 

 

The film is at times quirky and light heated, but always maintains its dry sense of humour in the face of life’s many challenges.

 

That running sense of humour throughout this film will keep you watching on amused as Xavier attempts to navigate foreign language, culture, subways, New York apartments and the US legal system.

 

Most of the dialogue is in French but this only adds a certain charm and authenticity as you empathise with the difficulties of resettling and the omnipresent language barrier.

 

Xavier is pulled begrudgingly along as he tries to establish himself in his new home, new tangents appearing endlessly, sprawling outwards like New York City itself.

 

While some unnecessary scenes take away from the punch of the film, such as an un-subtitled Chinese boardroom meeting, Romain Duris is highly engaging as Xavier, forever struggling to keep his life together. It is Duris’ charm throughout the ever evolving novela of his life that makes for an enjoyable film nonetheless.

 

The Chinese Puzzle (M)

Playing In Limited National Release

Running Time: 117 minutes

See It: As an easy date movie, plus she’ll be impressed it’s French.

Skip It: If you want something more serious