Films About Family Secrets
Family secrets often serve as powerful plot devices in cinema, revealing hidden truths and complex relationships that can dramatically alter the dynamics within a family. These films explore the themes of betrayal, trust, and the consequences of keeping secrets, often leading to deep emotional revelations and conflicts. The tension created by these hidden truths can drive the narrative forward, making for compelling storytelling that resonates with audiences.
Here are some notable films that delve into the theme of family secrets:
“The Others”, 2001
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
In this atmospheric horror film, a mother (Nicole Kidman) and her two photosensitive children live in a secluded mansion, where they begin to experience strange occurrences. As the story unfolds, dark family secrets are revealed that tie the past and present together in shocking ways.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Alakina Mann, James Bentley, Eric Sykes, Elaine Cassidy, Renée Asherson, Gordon Reid, Keith Allen, Michelle Fairley, Alexander Vince, Ricardo López, Aldo Grilo;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: horror, thriller, detective;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
“The Family Stone”, 2005
Director: Thomas Bezucha
This dramedy revolves around the Stone family as they gather for Christmas. Tensions rise when their son brings home his uptight girlfriend, leading to the revelation of long-held family secrets that challenge their perceptions of love and acceptance.
Starring: Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, Brian J. White, Elizabeth Reaser, Paul Schneider, Savannah Stehlin, Jamie Kaler, Robert Dioguardi, Carol Locatell, Ginna Carter, Gus Buktenica, Michael Pemberton, Ron Wall, Christopher Parker, Steve Alterman, John Gidcomb, Susan Leslie, Hope Levy, Randall Montgomery, Jill Remez, Judy Garland, Choice Plasencia, Sylvan Shen;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “The Family Stone” on the website imdb.com
“August: Osage County”, 2013
Director: John Wells
When a family patriarch disappears, the dysfunctional Weston family reunites in their Oklahoma home. Old resentments and buried secrets emerge, leading to explosive confrontations and a raw exploration of familial bonds.
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 Children”, 2006
Director: Todd Field
Set in a suburban community, this film follows the lives of several adults whose seemingly perfect lives unravel as they grapple with infidelity, parenthood, and hidden pasts that threaten to come to light.
Starring: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Noah Emmerich, Gregg Edelman, Phyllis Somerville, Raymond J. Barry, Jane Adams, Ty Simpkins, Sadie Goldstein, Helen Carey, Sarah Buxton, Mary B. McCann, Trini Alvarado, Marsha Dietlein, Will Lyman, Catherine Wolf, Thomas Greaney, Anna Audia, Celestial Hakim, Hunter Reid, Chadwick Brown, Phil McGlaston, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Adam Mucci, Chance Kelly, Rebecca Schull, Crystal Field, Lola Pashalinski, Walker Ryan, David Cole, Weston Elrod, Erica Berg, Christopher Nicholas Smith, Adam Sietz, Stan Carp, Sandra Berrios, Ivar Brogger, Myra Turley, David Rowden, Paul Mott, Margaret Pace, Beatrice Rigaud, Mary Goggin, Jillian Lindig, William Harvey, Casper Andreas;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 137 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Little Children” on the website imdb.com
“Prisoners”, 2013
Director: Denis Villeneuve
When two young girls go missing, their families are plunged into despair. As the investigation unfolds, the father of one of the girls takes matters into his own hands, leading to dark revelations about secrets that bind and tear a family apart.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano, Dylan Minnette, Zoë Soul, Erin Gerasimovich, Kyla-Drew, Wayne Duvall, Len Cariou, David Dastmalchian, Brad James, Anthony Reynolds, Robert C. Treveiler, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Victoria Staley, Todd Truley, Brian Daye, Alisa Harris, Robert Mello, Jeff Pope, Roderick Goins, Mark Drum, Lana Yoo, Pamela Smith, Gloria Webber, Michelle Keller, John Atwood, Stacy Melich, J. Omar Castro, Jane McNeill, Chance Bartels, Vernon Beckstrom, Becky Boyd, Melvin Breedlove, Frederick Carpenter, Dennis Christopher, Takara Clark, Jason Davis, Katrina Despain, Faith Dillon, Andrew Fincher, John Fleischmann, Reeva Forrester, Micky Francis, Nyah Gantt, Mike Gassaway;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 153 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “Prisoners” on the website imdb.com
“The Ice Storm”, 1997
Director: Ang Lee
Set in the 1970s, this drama follows two families in suburban Connecticut as they navigate infidelity, adolescence, and the unspoken secrets that define their relationships during a tumultuous holiday weekend.
Starring: Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Henry Czerny, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Adam Hann-Byrd, David Krumholtz, Jamey Sheridan, Kate Burton, William Cain, Michael Cumpsty, Maia Danziger, Katie Holmes, Michael Egerman, Christine Farrell, Glenn Fitzgerald, Allison Janney, Jonathan Freeman, Barbara Garrick, Dennis Gagomiros, John Benjamin Hickey, Tom Flagg, Byron Jennings, Miles Marek, Colette Kilroy, Ivan Kronenfeld, Daniel McDonald, Donna Mitchell, Barbara Neal, Nancy Opel, Larry Pine, Wendy Scott, Marcell Rosenblatt, Evelyn Solann, Jessica Stone, Sarah Thompson, Scott Wentworth, Robert Westenberg, Colleen Camp, Ann Kinner, Bill McIntyre, Joe O'Connor, Courtney Peldon, Bettina Skye;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “The Ice Storm” on the website imdb.com
“Everything Is Illuminated”, 2005
Director: Liev Schreiber
A young American travels to Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II. Along the way, he uncovers family secrets and the impact of history on personal identity.
Starring: Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jana Hrabetova, Stephen Samudovsky, Ljubomir Dezera, Gil Kazimirov, Zuzana Hodkova, Mikki, Mouse, Robert Chytil, Jaroslava Sochova, Sergei Ryabtsev, Yuri Lemeshev, Pamela Racine, Oleksandr Houtz, Ludmila Kartouska, Igor Latta, Eugenin Marandic, Orest Tkachuk, Elias Bauer, Jurij Kokyrc, Sergej Kapitan, Jaroslav Jurichkanc, Igor Savivskij, Jan Filipenský, Bert Schneider, Tereza Veselkova, Laryssa Lauret, Lukás Král, Vera Sindelarova;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 106 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Everything Is Illuminated” on the website imdb.com
These films illustrate the complexity and nuance of familial relationships, showcasing how secrets can shape lives and reveal the intricacies of human emotions.
In exploring the intricate tapestry of family secrets, these films reveal how hidden truths can shape relationships, alter identities, and ultimately redefine the notion of family itself. From the haunting revelations in “The Others” to the poignant struggles in “Little Secrets,” each narrative uncovers the delicate balance between love and betrayal. They invite audiences to reflect on the complexities of familial bonds and the emotional weight that secrets carry. Ultimately, these films serve as a reminder that while some truths may be shrouded in darkness, the journey towards understanding and acceptance can illuminate even the most fractured families, leading to growth, healing, and sometimes, unexpected connections.
