REVIEW of film: “FAMILY TREE” [ = Report # 11 on 46th CIFF ]

2010, 09-30:

REVIEW of film: “FAMILY TREE”  [ = Report # 11 on 46^th CIFF ]

      REPORT # 11 on the 2010  46^th CHICAGO INT’L FILM FESTIVAL =     

In this French film (originally titled “L’Arbre Et La Foret”), it seems the “tree” is inherently “BROKEN”, with a bunch of partially defective “BRANCHES”:

…  The 77-year-old father of the family is named Frederick (played by GUY MARCHAND).  His eldest son Charles has just died--  & he has REFUSED to attend his FUNERAL.  That deeply angers his next oldest son, Guillaume (FRANCOIS NEGRET), whose fury is expanded by the fact he has a drinking problem…

…  Frederick’s wife Marianne (FRANCOISE FABIAN) makes “excuses” for Frederick , & even Charles’ daughter Delphine (SABRINA SEYVECOU) complains more about Guillaume’s attitude than about the actions of the father...

...  Her boyfriend, Remi (YANNICK REVIER), tends to be very easy-going, & goes along with Delphine.  Charles’ wife Francoise (CATHERINE MOUCHET) is also understanding.  As one of them says, “Your father’s always done his ‘OWN thing’…”

…  The Festival Schedule accurately describes the film as being about “a family that DOESN’T KNOW itself”…  As people mill around the father’s countryside home, bit-by-bit, many TRUTHS start to come out about the family, starting with revelations from Frederick-- who explains WHY he did not attend the ceremony…

…  Later, the father (who loudly plays Wagner music all the time) tells of being born in Alsace, & relates how he was turned over to the NAZIS by French GOVERNMENTAL authorities…  He’d claimed in the past that it was because of his “political” beliefs--  but, to the family members, he admits that WASN’T TRUE, & the real reason was something known by Charles & helped cause them to grow apart & HATE each other starting many years ago…

…  While his wife Marianne knew the real reason for the break, the other children did NOT know, & their learning the “shameful” truth has many repercussions… 

...  We learn why Frederick is so “attached” to the large tree just outside the house (planted after he got home from World War II), & why he’s made his money doing forestry work on his property…  Other secrets come out, such as regarding how he & his wife separated for a time & then got back together again…

…  Guillaume felt unloved by his father, & in time admits certain things about HIMSELF (after initially denying them).  He quietly tries to get MONEY from his father, although Delphine doesn’t agree with Guillaume’s wishes when she learns of the plans...

...  Later, it’s explained why she’s so solicitous of her grandfather Frederick…  We also learn information about the relationship between Charles & his wife…

… One of the people involved says they DON’T NEED the money from a proposed sale of Frederick’s property, & is told by someone there, “Just TAKE it--  make us HAPPY!”…  As disagreements rise up, one of the family member’s comments, “It’s like you want to LIQUIDATE the PAST!”…  

...  And a “postscript” points out how it took the French government until 2001 before it revealed the TRUTH about some of its disgraceful wartime actions dealt with in this film…

…  Yes, it’s most certainly a DYSFUNCTIONAL family we meet here--  but it’s fascinating to see the “onion” of truth “peeled open”, layer-by layer, & I’d rate this well-acted drama a 7.5 out of 10 stars…

[  NOTE:  You can easily  SHARE  this Posting with your friends or family by sending them an automatic e-Mail LINK via clicking on the “M” button in the lower left-hand corner under “VOICE OF SILENCE” below...  ]

 

 

  (o_
   /\ 

= = =         …  ( <>  ^  <> )  ...