The Darling Family
The Darling Family | |
---|---|
Directed by | Alan Zweig |
Written by | Linda Griffiths |
Starring | Alan Williams Linda Griffiths |
Cinematography | Gerald Packer |
Edited by | Michael Pacek |
Music by | Mychael Danna |
Production company | Cineplex Odeon Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
The Darling Family is a Canadian drama film, directed by Alan Zweig and released in 1994.[1] Based on the theatrical play by Linda Griffiths, the film stars Griffiths and Alan Williams as a couple discussing the state of their relationship after the woman unexpectedly becomes pregnant,[2] blending both scenes in which they talk to each other with scenes in which they verbalize their interior monologues.[3]
Critical response[]
Geoff Pevere of The Globe and Mail reviewed the film favourably, rating it three stars and writing that "Although made on a minuscule budget and largely restricted to the unventilated spectacle of two people cautiously circling each other in closed spaces, The Darling Family never fails to resonate beyond its dramatic confines. Griffiths' script, which is every bit as critical of She as it is of He, captures precisely the paralyzing self-consciousness of contemporary gender relations, and does so with an economy that can shift from the comic to the tragic in the flick of a phrase: 'Oh no,' He panics at one point, 'she's happy.'"[1]
Writing for Maclean's, Brian D. Johnson was more critical, asserting that "as an excursion into relationship hell, the film has an emotional veracity and psychological insight. But the spartan, deadlocked drama demands a lot of patience from the viewer. It is like one of those exhausting late-night discussions in bed that are destined to go nowhere."[2]
References[]
- ^ a b Geoff Pevere, "Dangerous liaisons". The Globe and Mail, August 27, 1994.
- ^ a b Brian D. Johnson, "Man versus woman: The Darling Family directed by Alan Zweig". Maclean's, September 5, 1994.
- ^ Craig MacInnis, "A Darling idea looking for a movie". Toronto Star, August 26, 1994.
External links[]
- 1994 films
- English-language films
- Canadian films
- Canadian drama films
- Films based on Canadian plays
- Films directed by Alan Zweig
- 1990s Canadian film stubs