Father Mother Sister Brother, the latest feature from acclaimed indie auteur Jim Jarmusch, premiered this evening at the Venice Film Festival, earning a mix of positive reviews and thoughtful critiques.
The ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Sarah Greene, Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat, and Françoise Lebrun. The film follows estranged siblings reuniting after years apart, confronting unresolved tensions and re-examining their strained ties with emotionally distant parents.
Critics praised the film’s low-key style, noting it is understated even by Jarmusch’s standards. Deadline’s Damon Wise described it as an “elevated cringe comedy” that recalls the director’s experimental roots of the 1980s and 1990s. He added: “Nothing seems to land, but somehow it lingers… a reminder that you can’t choose your family.”
The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw awarded it four out of five stars, applauding its Zen-like simplicity and calling it “a film to savour.” IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio graded it A-, likening its rhythm to short stories and highlighting its dry humor and awkward silences, while suggesting even David Lynch would have admired its subtle artistry.
Other outlets were similarly positive. Next Best Picture gave it 7/10, praising its gentle, humorous exploration of family interactions. Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri called it “a minor key Jarmusch, which is sometimes his best key.”
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Not all reactions were glowing. The Playlist and The Wrap offered more critical takes, calling it uneven and occasionally deflating. Yet, the International Cinephile Society still ranked it among “the year’s most lovely, gentle films.”
Produced by Charles Gillibert, Joshua Astrachan, Carter Logan, and Atilla Salih Yücer, the film is backed by Mubi, which also holds distribution rights across the U.S., Latin America, UK, Ireland, Benelux, Turkey, and India. A domestic release is scheduled for December, with The Match Factory handling international sales.
Source: deadline.com
