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The Myth of Fingerprints (1996)

Director: Bart Freundlich

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1 review

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Warren (Wyle) hasn't been home to Maine in three years, partly because he still hasn't got over being dumped by the love of his life. When he does turn up for Thanksgiving, however, it's not Daphne who's the problem, but his dad Hal (Scheider), who welcomes Warren, his other children - persistently angry Mia (Moore), non-committal Jake (Vartan), easy-going Leigh (Holloman) - and their various partners with an indifference verging on outright hostility. Somehow, Warren's mum Lena (Danner) keeps a fragile peace, though Mia's tantrums and Hal's icy disapproval repeatedly threaten to turn the reunion into an emotional bloodbath. While writer/director Freundlich's serio-comic study of a dysfunctional family is hardly original, it is a remarkably mature, assured and perceptive first feature. A superior cast give their best in a faintly old-fashioned, carefully crafted, very enjoyable movie from a young talent to watch.

Author: GA

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

E A Dobson said...

Posted on Jan 16 2011 20:04 Well,the young talent to watch went on to do Trust the Man(which i went to see on the strength of this & regretted every penny spent!) & The Rebound(which i don`t plan on seeing,ever!).The TO review for this however is spot on.I caught this nice little film on channel five of all places,late one night some years ago.What reminded me of it was an inferior film i watched recently called The Family Stone,only trouble is this film is little known and unavailable but if you ever get the chance it`s worth the time.

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