Films about family conflict often explore the complexities of human relationships within the familial unit. These films delve into the dynamics of love, betrayal, loyalty, and the struggle for understanding and acceptance within the family.
“American Beauty”, 1999
Director: Sam Mendes
Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey, experiences a midlife crisis and becomes infatuated with his daughter's best friend, leading to tension and conflict within the family.
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Peter Gallagher, Allison Janney, Chris Cooper, Scott Bakula, Sam Robards, Barry Del Sherman, Ara Celi, John Cho, Fort Atkinson, Sue Casey, Kent Faulcon, Brenda Wehle, Lisa Cloud, Alison Faulk, Krista Goodsitt, Lily Houtkin, Carolina Lancaster, Mona Leah, Chekesha Van Putten, Emily Zachary, Nancy Anderson, Reshma Gajjar, Stephanie Rizzo, Heather Joy Sher, Chelsea Hertford, Amber Smith, Joel McCrary, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Dennis Anderson, Matthew Kimbrough, Erin Cathryn Strubbe, Thomas J Armstrong, Elaine Corral Kendall, David Cotton Fisher, James Hunter, Spencer Kayden, Tom Miller, Ronald Reagan;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 122 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “American Beauty” on the website imdb.com
“The Royal Tenenbaums”, 2001
Director: Wes Anderson
This film follows the dysfunctional and estranged Tenenbaum family as they navigate their complicated relationships and personal struggles.
Starring: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Danny Glover, Seymour Cassel, Kumar Pallana, Alec Baldwin, Grant Rosenmeyer, Jonah Meyerson, Aram Aslanian-Persico, Irina Gorovaia, Arianna Turturro, Stephen Lea Sheppard, James Fitzgerald, Larry Pine, Don McKinnon, Frank Wood, Al Thompson, Jennifer Wachtell, Donal Lardner Ward, Andrew Wilson, Dipak Pallana, Sanjay Mathew, Mary Wigmore, Sonam Wangmo, Gita Gabriel, Pawel Wdowczak, Peter Leung, William Sturgis, Liam Craig, Sheelagh Tellerday, Max Faugno, Guido Venitucci, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Brian Smiar, Jan Austell, Rony Clanton, Salim Malik, Tom Lacy, Keith Charles, Greg Goossen, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Vic Mata, Michael J. Conti, Tatiana Abbey, Kalani Queypo;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Royal Tenenbaums” on the website imdb.com
“August: Osage County”, 2013
Director: John Wells
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this film portrays the dysfunctional Weston family as they reunite after a family crisis, unearthing deep-seated conflicts and secrets.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Julianne Nicholson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dermot Mulroney, Juliette Lewis, Misty Upham, Sam Shepard, Margo Martindale, Abigail Breslin, Will Coffey, Newell Alexander, Jerry Stahl, Dale Dye, Ivan Allen, Arlin Miller, J. Alan Davidson, Michael Graham, Maria Gus, Leland Prater;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
“Little Miss Sunshine”, 2006
Director: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
The Hoover family embarks on a cross-country trip to support their daughter's dream of competing in a beauty pageant, leading to humorous and poignant moments of family conflict and growth.
Starring: Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, Dean Norris, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Marc Turtletaub, Jill Talley, Brenda Canela, Chuck Loring, Justin Shilton, Gordon Thomson, Steven Christopher Parker, John Walcutt, Paula Newsome, Beth Grant, Wallace Langham, Lauren Shiohama, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jerry Giles, Geoff Meed, Matt Winston, Joan Scheckel, Cassandra Ashe, Mel Rodriguez, Alexandria Alaman, Alissa Anderegg, Brittany Baird, Cambria Baird, Brenae Bandy, Kristen Holaas, Maliah Hudson, Destry Jacobs, Lindsey Jordan, Shane Murphy, Annabelle Roberts, Sydni Stevenson-Love, Nicole Stoehr, Lauren Yee, Erik David Barber, Terry Bolo, Marc De'Antone, Tara Dawn Holland, Ksenia Jarova, Spencer Kayden, Brittany Paige, Alva Loomis;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Little Miss Sunshine” on the website imdb.com
“The Squid and the Whale”, 2005
Director: Noah Baumbach
This film delves into the impact of divorce on a family, as two boys navigate the emotional fallout of their parents' separation.
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, William Baldwin, David Benger, Anna Paquin, Molly Barton, Bo Berkman, Matthew Kaplan, Simon Kaplan, Matthew Kirsch, Daniella Markowicz, Elizabeth Meriwether, Ben Schrank, Amy Srebnick, Josh Srebnick, Emma Straub, Alan Wilkis, James Hamilton, Adam Rose, Henry Glovinsky, Eli Gelb, Halley Feiffer, Wayne Lawson, Michael Santiago, Juan Torriente, Patricia Towers, Peggy Gormley, Greta Kline, Melissa Meyer, Benjamin Smolen, Michael Countryman, Alexandra Daddario, Nico Baumbach, Maryann Plunkett, Hector Otero, Ken Leung, Jo Yang, Jonathan Baumbach, Andrew Kaempfer, Bobby Shue;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 81 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “The Squid and the Whale” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a compelling exploration of the complexities, tensions, and emotional landscapes that come with family conflict, providing viewers with thought-provoking narratives and powerful performances.
The selection of films about family conflict offers a poignant exploration of the complexities and dynamics within familial relationships. From intense dramas to heartwarming comedies, these films delve into the universal themes of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and resilience within the context of family. Each story unfolds with raw emotion, capturing the audience's attention and inviting introspection on the intricacies of human connections. Through these films, viewers are reminded of the profound impact that family dynamics have on shaping our identities and the enduring power of love amidst conflicts.
