rjohnson-52
Dear Mara Lesemann, Thanks so much for sharing "Surviving Family" with us! We loved it. We laughed and cried. The characters are so real and believable. I love getting absorbed in a film like yours, and feeling empathy for the characters, and really wanting them to fight through the pain of the past to get back to the joys of living. The interaction between the siblings rings so true -- love and annoyance and familiarity and clinging to past impressions. It makes me want to reach out to my siblings, and reminds me that we all go through the whole range of good and bad, but that our families are our permanent past of which we must make the best, for the sake of our future. Keeping creating and sending out your messages of art to the world, because it is stuff we all need to hear. And tell Carlo Fiorletta that his performance reminded me of the time that he was my supervisor at BT (just kidding, there were no nuns there...)
mariefilippino
The subject matter in "Surviving Family" was so relate-able right from the start, and I immediately connected with Terry. Her conceptions and beliefs about her family relationships were without question. But as the movie develops and secrets revealed, the transformation of each character's vulnerability is unveiled and changes your first impression of each family member. The subject matter is sensitive and everyone can relate to at least one of the issues that families tend to sweep under the rug. The movie is well written and directed, has the right balance of humor, anger, communication and lack thereof, and the actors perfectly cast to their characters. And I must say, the final scene blew me away - totally was not expecting it! Well done!!
allstarrpi
Surviving Family paints a realistic view of a dysfunctional family and the resultant baggage each member carries. It demonstrates how children can be affected by tragedies especially when their "whys?" go unanswered and how the consequences of family secrets can distort the truth and affect their relationships as they grow up. Every once in a while a movie challenges you to think.This is that kind of movie. The actors are great. Phyllis Somerville, a veteran actress finally clears the air about the Malone family for niece Terry played by talented Sarah Wilson. Her fiancée is played by Billy Magnussen who went from this movie on to Broadway and is now debuting in Steven Spielberg's INTO THE WOODS.Incidentally, he's a hunk. For those of you who are Soprano fans Vincent Pastore plays the mayor of the town. This is a well written, well acted, well photographed unpretentious movie that makes you think.See it. You'll like it.
danielwesthoff511
I saw "Surviving Family," at the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City in a beautifully restored movie palace and the entire evening was a great one, where independent film is concerned.The ambiance of watching a movie in grand movie palace once owned by MGM blended with a very hard-edged yet enjoyable independent film such as Surviving Family. Beautifully shot by Laura Thies from a brilliant screenplay by Mara Lesemann, the film has an odd mix of sweetness and tragedy. It's got moments of comedy blended in with the heavy drama.Buoyed by a strong performance from Sarah Wilson, who plays Terry Malone a young woman returning home to get married at her family's home. However, it's not all wine and roses, as Terry has several ghosts from her past that are still haunting her. Tragedy, alcoholism and other obstacles threaten to ruin the very marriage she came to start here.There are also tremendous supporting performances from Phyllis Somerville and Tara Westwood and a very nice cameo by Vincent Pastore of "The Sopranos," fame.See this movie either at a film festival or hopefully one day soon in theatrical release. It doesn't quite have a Hollywood ending, but it will make you think, and that's always a good thing.
AD
