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.

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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

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.

3dawnlscherer

They forgot to tell a story.

I really wish I would have listened to my instincts and turned this off 10 minutes in. The bombshell never comes. Grandma gives up like three unrelated pieces of info in the whole documentary. The summary of this documentary is much more compelling than the actual documentary.

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.

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).

ycv1104