Jim Jarmusch’s first film in seven years is an anthology of three separate stories in three different countries: USA, France, and Ireland. Each examines fractured family relationships. Jarmusch has made three portmanteau films before, so he is a dab hand at the format. However, he is not immune to a common failing, in that certain segments are stronger than the others. In this case, the first third is superb.
Adam Driver and Mayim Bialik play siblings, Jeff and Emily, who visit their Dad, played by Tom Waits, in his secluded American home. They have not seen him in at least two years and he presents himself as near broke and a little befuddled. But maybe not is all as it seems. Jarmusch superbly captures the awkwardness when family members who now have little in common come together. Driver and Waits are predictably excellent, but it was Bialik who surprised me. I had no idea she was capable of a performance of such subtlety. There is a lot going on under the surface that remains unexplained, particularly involving what happened after Jeff & Emily’s Mum died. If the whole movie comprised this visit, it would have been film of the year contender.
The second segment features Cate Blanchett and Vicky Krieps as very different sisters who make their annual visit to their mother’s Dublin town house for an afternoon tea. Charlotte Rampling plays the aloof mother and there is an awkwardness there again. But, despite Krieps’ best efforts, there is something of a falseness to the interactions, as if I could see the three formidable performers flexing their acting muscles.
The final part has siblings Skye (Indya Moore) and Billy (Luka Sabbat) making their final visit to their parents Paris apartment after they were killed in a tragic accident. The pair seem much closer and more comfortable in their relationship, possibly because the parents are not there. It has a nice poignancy, but lacks dramatic tension, so it drifts a little.
Father Mother Sister Brother is available to watch for MUBI members and can be rented on the normal services.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10