Movie Review: 'Family Portrait' Starring Deragh Campbell

Family Portrait (2024)

Directed by Lucy Kerr

Written by Lucy Kerr, Rob Rice, Karlis Bergs

Starring Rachel Alig, Deragh Campbell, Katie Folger, Chris Galust

Release Date June 28th, 2024

Published June 24th, 2024

A woman sits outside on a beautiful summer day. She has a book, the sound is ambient, a light breeze, the insects of summer making their usual music. It's a peaceful, lush image. As captured by writer-director Lucy Kerr, using a deep focus that allows for us to see past what is in the foreground, it's a gorgeous image that is slightly off center. Typically, when we are watching a movie, we expect the main action of the scene to be centered in the frame. But, with so much visual enticement, and the main character of the scene slightly off to the side and not engaging in activity that would be considered story or plot important, our eyes wander the frame.

And what we center on is a hollowed-out tree. There is a gap that doesn't appear large enough for someone to crawl inside. The dancing sunlight between the branches and leaves however, visually indicate that the tree is hollow, and our eyes search it for visual confirmation. Then, we start to see something or someone moving inside the tree. It's confusing and a little frightening at first. You wonder, is this what we've been looking for in the scene, is there something sinister, supernatural, or dangerous in that tree? Why is whatever this is hiding in the tree? This will be revealed but first, our way of seeing the world is exposed. Do you assume something strange or dangerous? Or is it just a tree?

Family Portrait is a movie about perceptions. It's about how we process visual and auditory information. Ostensibly, the movie is about a family gathering. A large, apparently happy, family has gathered at a large cabin on a lake. We are coming in at the end of the family gathering. We know this because our main character, Katy (Deragh Campbell), and her boyfriend Olek (Chris Galust), have a plane to catch. But, before they can leave, Olek has agreed to snap the family portrait by the lake. Olek is waiting, mostly patiently, for everyone to decide what time they will take the picture. Katy is eager for there to be a plan, but she is consistently ignored or gently mocked for being pushy about moving things along.

Growing more and more impatient, Katy is hopeful that her mother, Annabelle (Rachel Alig), will take control of the situation and get everyone in line. Unfortunately for Katy, Annabelle is nowhere to be found. For most of the movie, Katy will be wandering around trying to find her mother while the rest of the family carries on having idle conversations, sharing and re-sharing well-worn anecdotes, and generally unconcerned about Katy's time crunch or the unknown whereabouts of Annabelle. Annabelle disappears almost immediately after informing her eldest daughter that a cousin has died suddenly and most unexpectedly.

Family Portrait lingers on gorgeously composed scenes and dialogue is muddled, muffled, and overlapping. Thus, as Olek is relating a humorous story to Katy, Annabelle's news about the death of this unseen cousin, meld together in a bit of confusion but only for us watching. Here, Lucy Kerr is inviting us to choose what we want to focus on or care about. You may have to focus a bit to follow the two lines of conversation, each happening as two little girls are loudly playing house at the bottom of the frame. This might sound frustrating but it's a foundational scene, it's setting up a narrative that is heady, a little dizzying, and, in the end, all about how we watch movies, process images, and decide for ourselves what story is occurring.

Is this a thriller in which a woman goes missing? Is it a monster movie? Are we watching a mystery unfold? Or is this just a family drama and mom was just off having a phone conversation with her brother whose daughter just died unexpectedly. There may or may not be answers or I might be inferring how I think the story is playing out. All I know for sure is, when we arrive back at that tree I mentioned earlier, Lucy Kerr has given me a lot to think about. Kerr's direction challenges you to consider how your own mind works. When her camera lingers on a beautiful image it's up to you how you link that visual to one that comes later. It's up to you to decide if this is some sort of thriller, horror movie, or a family drama.

And I absolutely loved the experience. I loved every moment of Family Portrait. I found the film to be endlessly fascinating, beautiful to look at, and a brilliant experiment in how movies and audiences can work together and create an experience. So many movies, especially mainstream movies, just sort of happen in front of you. Family Portrait is not merely happening in front of you. The movie invites you in to take part in everything. It invites you to listen to the casual rhythmic conversation of people who've known each other forever and have a personal shorthand you aren't privy to. It invites you to view beautiful images and decide if you think they are merely pretty or are hiding some deeper meaning.

Is the image sinister? Does it make you afraid? Does it make you curious? Did you see something that wasn't there? Is it a visual metaphor for something thematic? It's a choose your own adventure. You are making up parts of the story and in doing so, you are revealing how you see the world and how you watch movies. It's an incredible trick and not everyone is going to get it. I can certainly see audiences watching Family Portrait and responding angrily that nothing happened or that they were confused by the overlapping dialogue or bored by the pretty visuals that may or may not have a deeper meaning. I found Family Portrait exhilarating but some of you need to be prepared and know what you are getting into, and I hope this review gives you a reason to see this movie and give in to what Lucy Kerr is going for. And if this kind of experience is not for you, don't go.

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