The Savages

Difficult families, we all can relate, right? In 2007 Tamara Jenkins wrote and directed a simple, fresh and beautiful movie called The Savages, a comedy / drama starring the ever so lovely Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney who also does a phenomenal job here. It is a very moving picture that despite its brilliant cast got lost somewhere under the radar. Walking the fine line between real life comedy and its inevitable tragedy, The Savages is about a brother and a sister who are each coming to terms with their estranged father who is suffering from old age dementia.

Physical and emotional breakdowns, dementia, nursing homes and broken dreams, not exactly a barrel of laughs but Jenkins has written a warm and soothing screenplay that makes these every day occurrences realistic and bearable. The Savages is a bitter sweet movie filled with touching moments, simple and elegant dialogue and poetic / dreamlike images that beautifully contrast the dreary reality.

It is brave enough to address issues we desperately want to ignore and does so in a humane and humorous way that shows both the perspective of the kids and of the father, making it a powerful accomplishment. The subject may not be a laughing matter but there is a lot of humor intertwined in this heartfelt tale that arises from the absurdity of the situations which feel so genuinely familiar.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney, although portraying ordinary and complex individuals, make their performance so natural and effortless that you can’t help but be in awe of these two phenomenal talents. Tamara Jenkins on the other hand has an uncanny understanding for family relations, making her film raw, poignant and compassionate. Her subtle and engaging story is aided by her natural flowing camera movement, powerful details and a multitude of melancholic colors. The Savages is a stunning movie illustrating what happens when children have to become parents.