In the Family (2011)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(342 ratings)

In the town of Martin, Tennessee, Chip Hines, a precocious six year old, has only known life with his two dads, Cody and Joey. And a good life it is. When Cody dies suddenly in a car accident, Joey and Chip struggle to find their footing again. Just as they begin to, Cody's will reveals that he… More In the town of Martin, Tennessee, Chip Hines, a precocious six year old, has only known life with his two dads, Cody and Joey. And a good life it is. When Cody dies suddenly in a car accident, Joey and Chip struggle to find their footing again. Just as they begin to, Cody's will reveals that he named his sister as Chip's guardian. The years of Joey's acceptance into the family unravel as Chip is taken away from him. In his now solitary home life, Joey searches for a solution. The law is not on his side, but friends are. Armed with their comfort and inspired by memories of Cody, Joey finds a path to peace with the family and closer to his son. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Patrick Wang
Written By: Patrick Wang, Trevor St. John, Sebastian Banes
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 4, 2012 Limited
Studio: In The Family LLC

Critic Reviews

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
This deeply humanistic, profoundly touching work representing independent cinema at its finest should be seen by far wider audiences.
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
These days, a movie so invested in the highs and lows of caring for others can only be a remarkable, cherished thing.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
What a courageous first feature this is, a film that sidesteps shopworn stereotypes and tells a quiet, firm, deeply humanist story about doing the right thing.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Patrick Wang's moving debut feature appropriates the story arc of a courtroom drama, but the law turns out to be less pivotal than such old-fashioned ideas as fairness and decency.
Paul Brunick, New York Times
Mr. Wang's slow-reveal psychological drama isn't just a showcase for his excellent ensemble cast. Beautifully modulated and stylistically sui generis, "In the Family" is also one of the most accomplished and undersold directorial debuts this year.
Andrew Schenker, Village Voice
With an incisive understanding of character, believably naturalistic acting, and lengthy scenes that don't feel stretched out, In the Family proves that smart direction and an innate feeling for one's material trumps potentially precious subject matter.
Ethan Alter, Television Without Pity
The fact that the film paints Joey as such a resolutely good guy throughout robs it of a certain dramatic complexity.
Rob Humanick, Slant Magazine
An acutely felt, altogether devastating family drama as intimate and affecting as it is sprawling and untamed.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Ultimately worthwhile tale of a gay custody battle: important, rewarding viewing, but marred by directorial indulgence and excessive length.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A serious and meditative film about loss, mourning, and the changes that come with them.