"OUR FATHER" // SXSW 2021
OUR FATHER is a film that sneaks up on you, hiding its emotional core inside a very funny and offbeat comedy. Two sisters, Zelda (Allison Torem) and Beta (Baize Buzan) reunite after the passing of their father. Neither are close to any other family member, though Beta is regarded much higher by their mother. Zelda owes her landlords money and is the black sheep of the family. Together they take the trip to hear the will of their father, where they find out about an unknown uncle, someone who was very close to their father. How could they have never known about this Uncle? And who is he? So they band together to try and find who seems to be the missing link of their family.
When OUR FATHER starts, it has an awkward pacing and strangeness to the dialogue's delivery. While you may at first think this is an error, it's actually setting you up for the weirdness that the film twists are going to take. It consistently gets stranger and funnier and then almost out of nowhere packs a hell of an emotional punch to the gut. The relationship trajectory between the two sisters is also much sweeter and tender than you will originally may guess. Both actors, Torem and Buzan, are both stellar in the roles, adding layer upon layer as the film progresses. The ambitious and challenging script by Bradley Grant Smith (who also serves as director) surprises and delights, crafting a story that feels original in a premise that is not (bonus points for the unexpected and emotional ending). Heartwarming and overall delightful, OUR FATHER is a unique twist on the fractured family tale.
GRADE: B+
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Bradley Grant Smith STARRING Allison Torem, Baize Buzan, Tim Hopper, Austin Pendleton, Corey Hendrix SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2021 SXSW FESTIVAL. FOR MORE INFO: OUR FATHER