Comme nos parents

"Just Like Our Parents" (2017 release from Brazil; 107 min.) brings the story of an upper middle class Brazilian family. As the movie opens, the family gathers for lunch or dinner, and before we know it, various family members are arguing about the role of parenting. In a shocking revelation, Rosa (the matriarch) tells her 38 yr. old daughter that she was conceived in an extra-marital affair. It leads to yet more strains. At this point we are a good 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the latest movie from Brazilian writer-director Laís Bodanzky. Here she focuses on the tensions within a well-to-do family. On the surface all should be well in the family, but as the movie develops, we learn more and more to make us understand what the real problems are (sort of like the many layers of an onion). The movie reminded me of many French "talkies", where seemingly nothing happens and people just talk, but in reality many different parts are moving. I quite enjoyed the movie for what it was, nothing more, nothing less.

"Just Like Our Parents" premiered at this year's Berlin Film Festival to good critical acclaim. I happen to catch the movie during a recent family visit to Belgium. The matinée screening where I saw this at in Antwerp, Belgium was attended nicely (about 15 people), given the spectacular summer weather that day. I have no idea if there are any plans to bring this to US theaters. If you like a quality foreign movie that focuses more on characters than on blowing up things, "Just Like Our Parents" is worth seeking out eventually on DVD/Blu-ray.

Nice story with a not very complicated, but effective camera planning and mise en scene, the plot is OK and the story line flows. The plot point is just in the beginning of this story.

The film discusses a lot of modern marriage subjects in such a realistic way that for many modern middle class couples, it will be seen as their own lives been shown.

Actors are very well, specially Maria Ribeiro and his dad, an artist with no concern regarding practical day-to-day life issues.

A very good film.

A struggle between family values and the ultra-modern society.