Family

This film was recommended to me by a friend of mine and how grateful I am for that recommendation. This movie tells the story of a group of African American lesbian friends who make the decision to come out to family and friends within 30 days and the struggle that decision involves. Now I'm not African American or gay so I'll never truly understand the struggles of the characters in this film, however I found myself deeply moved by the storyline as well as the top-notch performances of all the leads. The acting stand-outs for me were Faith Trimel and Charyse Monet. I went into this knowing it was a low-budget film but I can honestly say that once I got into the story I hardly noticed the lack of big-budget production values. I urge you to take a chance on this little indie film. You'll be glad you did!

I thought this film was a wonderful portrayal of black lesbians attempting to find themselves in a world that was not made for them. It was an honest and heartfelt film that did not get caught up in glamour and drama to make up for a poor acting and plot. This film kept my attention and spoke to my truths as an out black lesbian. It was a very realistic depiction of what life is like for most black lesbians that are not of privilege. I own this film and to date it is the only one of its kind, as there are no other black lesbian films that have done what "Family" has done. Ms. Trimel is the future of black lesbian films, she is a trailblazer in her own right and I dare anyone to question that. As there are no films that have an all black female, let alone all black lesbian cast. Finally someone has addressed my concerns, and has depicted me in the truest form.

Coming out stories for gays and lesbians are nothing new, for those of African descent, it's virgin territory, and I believe so necessary. The heavy themes of coming out are dealt with in this film but there is levity as well. I thought the acting showed maturity and range by all the actors. I especially enjoyed the ensemble of BFF's who supported and harangued each other until the very end. A beautiful cast, full of non-stop eye candy was nice, too (call me shallow). I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was so entertaining with such touching moments and hilarious moments reaching a comfortable equilibrium. For an obviously low-budget indie, it capitalized on depth and eloquence. I bought a copy so I could watch it over and over again.

I saw "Family" last fall at a film festival and thoroughly enjoyed this groundbreaking film. I had mixed emotions about spending money and time to see an unknown film by and unknown filmmaker but was genuinely amazed at the detailed and deliberate story lines. I felt that the stories of the very generous amount of lead characters were given a chance to fully evolve. I found my self laughing out loud at times and genuinely touched at other moments. It was so wonderful to see an honest portrayal of black lesbians. This is a jewel of a movie for showing the full spectrum of such hidden voices. Others spin yarns of being lesbian from such a warped perspective, but Ms. Trimel really touched upon a plethora of topics needing expression. The dialogue was so honest; the acting was spot on. I kept having to remind myself that this was a low-budget fare because the levels that the actors and actresses portrayed was a cut above what one would expect. I applaud this film and the courage displayed by the characters. I think that if others would look beyond production value and personal prejudices, their lives will be enriched by a work that glimpses into a rarely seen lives. This is a great indie film!