Surviving Family

Not literal ghosts ... although I reckon some may feel that way. Our own family may seem crazy to us, but sometimes if we compare it to other families ... they might be quite sane in comparison. That being said, this is a low budget effort and I am quite surprised it gathered so much festival love (I reckon the prizes and nominations are from that - I might be wrong).

That being said, the movie is really well done. Interesting relationships and well performed (good) dialog too. Something that is not really a given in low budget movies, but usually I try to give/cut them slack if that happens. Pacing is good, but may be too slow for some. Depending on where you come from, you may cherish this or be annoyed by it. Just be sure to know what this is (about) and if it is something you want to see in general.

This film is a must see- it sheds light mental health and how vital it is to get help- written and produced by Mara Leseman- excellent film!

A very well-written film on a very critical topic - as a mental health advocate and film maker, I know first hand how mental health affects every family, every community. Casting was impeccable and the chemistry between key actors was right on point!

There is dramatic scenes as well as some comedic scenes sprinkled in as well.

I found this to be a very touching movie. I would give it a ten out of ten. When you watch it you just get this feeling of sympathy for all of the characters and can completely relate to some parts. I found some of the acting and connection between certain characters to be phenomenal, especially the connection between Tara and Phyllis, their chemistry was very touching.I defiantly had to fight some tears back during the movie. After seeing the movie i went out to get some dinner with some close friends who had also seen it and sure enough the only thing we talked about was the movie.Though it is not the best movie I have seen, I was definitely left in awe when the the screen went blank.

Lovely movie exploring the effects of alcoholism and mental illness in a somewhat dysfunctional family. Great cast and good moments of comedy and drama throughout. Definitely worth watching.

Surviving Family, is as good as a movie comes for indie productions, I thoroughly enjoyed watching, it was well written, well shot and well acted, a breath of fresh air compared to the Hollywood factory. With actors portraying family members we can all relate to, it draws us into the movie with compelling performances scene after scene. The good reviews it has received so far are purely fair comment on a deserving piece of work. I especially found the actors believable, which is often lacking on low budget films where casting is often an afterthought. Unsurprisingly it has had it's fair share of prizes and awards. If you haven't watched an indie film before then this will be a revelation to see what can be done without big names and even bigger budgets.