A Family Affair

2015
1h 50m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

649

YOUR RATING

On his 30th birthday, Tom Fassaert receives a mysterious invitation from his 95-year-old grandmother Marianne to come visit her in South Africa. At that time, the only thing he knows about her are the myths and predominantly negative stories his father told him. She was a femme fatale who went through countless men, a famous model in the 1950s, and a mother that put her two sons into a children's home. Fassaert decides to accept her invitation. But when his grandmother makes an unexpected confession, his venture becomes much more complicated than he could ever have imagined.

Play trailer2:17

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Documentary

On his 30th birthday, Tom Fassaert receives a mysterious invitation from his 95-year-old grandmother Marianne to come visit her in South Africa. At that time, the only thing he knows about h... Read allOn his 30th birthday, Tom Fassaert receives a mysterious invitation from his 95-year-old grandmother Marianne to come visit her in South Africa. At that time, the only thing he knows about her are the myths and predominantly negative stories his father told him. She was a femme f... Read allOn his 30th birthday, Tom Fassaert receives a mysterious invitation from his 95-year-old grandmother Marianne to come visit her in South Africa. At that time, the only thing he knows about her are the myths and predominantly negative stories his father told him. She was a femme fatale who went through countless men, a famous model in the 1950s, and a mother that put h... Read all

Director
- Tom Fassaert

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

649

YOUR RATING

Director
- Tom Fassaert

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 13 wins & 4 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:17

Festival Trailer

Photos1

User reviews19

7.1649

Featured reviews

10tula-95151

I know this family...

It's hard for me to grasp the other viewers reviews, no one got it. This is what being on the autism spectrum looks like. Autism, folks.

1maggi77

Anyone can make a documentary now

Just about anyone now can make a documentary about anything. Sometimes people's stories are not worth to let the world know .Let alone make a documentary about it. This is one in particular is about some family secret which to this day i do not know what it was!! You call your film a family affair then tell the affair and ask the right questions. So many errors made by the film maker. Holes in the story .Never is explained many things that could help the audience to understand the story. I still do not understand the reason to make this film to begin with.

ycv1104

This doc. gave me nightmares

SPOILER: I love movies. Why would anyone want to publish anything about this women. Europeans are far too polite. She made me vomit inside my mouth, her son has a disability, her on the other hand is a creepy incest mom.

8neilahunter

Powerful account of tricky lady

It's not a tidy documentary (it's not a tidy story) and there are loose ends and moments where the focus blurs, but at its heart is a riveting, unforgettable portrait of a narcissistic woman whose children and grandchildren are inevitably caught up in her wake. Made by her grandson, it has a wonderful intimacy too (especially with her two sons).

7cathleen-flynn-music

Not sure how to review this

I watched this last night. It was somehow painful as the children of this woman were so obviously in pain emotionally. It hurt watching. I never felt it was resolved and that is why it was so hard to watch. I think if it had been made 10 years earlier there might have been more important information. The grandmother. Was she really that self absorbed? Did she really not understand that she could not have a sexual relationship with her grandson? Was she that oblivious about the pain she caused, most importantly, her sons? So, so, so sad.