Familia (2005)

89% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(1,322 ratings)

Michele, a divorced aerobics instructor with a gambling addiction, loses her job and seeks refuge with a childhood friend, Janine, who lives in a seemingly comfortable middle-class suburban neighborhood. Michele's rebellious teenage daughter, Marguerite, and Janine's shy and reserved daughter,… More Michele, a divorced aerobics instructor with a gambling addiction, loses her job and seeks refuge with a childhood friend, Janine, who lives in a seemingly comfortable middle-class suburban neighborhood. Michele's rebellious teenage daughter, Marguerite, and Janine's shy and reserved daughter, Gabrielle, become friends, leading to unforeseen tensions that force both generations to reassess their values.

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Louise Archambault
Written By: Louise Archambault
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 2, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Aug 8, 2006
Studio: Christal Films

Critic Reviews

Derek Elley, Variety
Pic would play much better as an ironic Altmanesque comedy, since its moments of pure drama are the weakest. Still, this is a largely entertaining feature debut.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Open-ended, inconclusive, heartfelt, unsentimental and curious, it's a movie that respects something too few popular entertainments do these days: our right to stumble our way from one day to the next.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A smart, well-modulated drama from first-time Quebec director Louise Archambault that packs a powerful after-effect.
Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter
Steering well clear of soap opera, the film offers a slice of life that women will surely recognize and men would no doubt benefit from seeing.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Don't let the DVD slick's happy smiling faces fool you; this is no flimsy chick flick, but a hard headed, big hearted expose of contemporary life
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Tackles some heavy domestic issues for a sitcom film and does so incisively and intelligently.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
A mundane melodrama that drags us along to window shop for some cheap, knock-off dysfunction. . . the women are about as interesting as stale donuts and the lying, cheating men are like the deep fryer's leftover lard drippings.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...a delicate dramedy that engages difficult themes in a way that seems neither forced nor arch.
S. James Wegg, JWR
Chick flick extraordinaire!

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mark A

This French-Canadian film tells a largely depressing tale of three families, with tenuous connections, that are slowly unraveling. Michelle (Sylvie Moreau), a woman with a gambling addiction, and her out-of-control teenage daughter, Marguerite (Mylene St.-Sauveur) move in with a… More
This French-Canadian film tells a largely depressing tale of three families, with tenuous connections, that are slowly unraveling. Michelle (Sylvie Moreau), a woman with a gambling addiction, and her out-of-control teenage daughter, Marguerite (Mylene St.-Sauveur) move in with a friend, Janine Macha Grenon), and her daughter, Gabrielle (Juliette Gosselin), son, and frequently absent husband. Conflicts ensue and finally spiral out of control, and both women find their worlds falling apart. Add in a young woman, Kate (Emily Holmes) that Janine befriends with what are finally revealed as ulterior motives and a recipe for disaster is in place. Terrific acting by all of the principles. The story wears a patina of gloom throughout, and the camera angles convey a sense of claustrophobia that emphasized that Michelle is facing ever fewer viable options. There are scenes of mild depravity as a result of her desperation that are tastefully handled. This was not a fun film to watch, by any means, but the quality of the production kept the viewer engaged. A couple of holes in the plot that may have been due to over-zealous editing, and plot twists that could be seen from a mile off detracted only slightly from the experience. The ending left one hopeful that life would go on, just not as originally configured.
Janice :

I usually hate movies made in quebec but surprisingly i loved this one... the ties between two mothers and their own daughters is quite appelaing in this movie where you have diametrically opposite characters with diff. values, morals and lifestyles. I loved it! This is definitely a… More
I usually hate movies made in quebec but surprisingly i loved this one... the ties between two mothers and their own daughters is quite appelaing in this movie where you have diametrically opposite characters with diff. values, morals and lifestyles. I loved it! This is definitely a tear-jerker for those sensitive at heart.
FanGirl B

A family drama that focus on two women and their daughters as their lives come crashing down around them. They may have thrown one to many issues into this film but overall a realistic look at how quickly your life can come crashing down around you. Also shows how destructive… More
A family drama that focus on two women and their daughters as their lives come crashing down around them. They may have thrown one to many issues into this film but overall a realistic look at how quickly your life can come crashing down around you. Also shows how destructive men/boys can be to womens' lives.

Cast

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Familia (2005)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Mark A

Janice :

FanGirl B

Cast

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