oh this is what saltburn would be if it didn’t include sex, drugs, cum and a nude barry keoghan? i see…
Directed by Lin Jianjie
Brief History of a Family
家庭简史
An atmospheric, slow-burn drama.
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
2024
1h 40m
3.4(6.7k)via LetterboxdZu Feng + 3 more
Ένα μικροατύχημα ανοίγει την κερκόπορτα μιας μεσοαστικής οικογένειας για να εισβάλει ένα νέο μέλος. Ένα νεαρό αγόρι που αρχικά συστήνεται ως «φίλος», αλλά σταδιακά διεκδικεί όλο και πιο έντονα τη θέση του μοναδικού παιδιού. Ποιο είναι, όμως, το πραγματικό του κίνητρο και ποια θα είναι η αντίδραση του βιολογικού τέκνου απέναντι στον εισβολέα;
Where to watch
1Sunday, 21 June
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Cast & crew
5What people say
justified response for someone trying to steal your shirt
Sundance 2024A tension filled drama that will draw comparisons to The Talented Mr. Ripley and more recently, Saltburn, as we have a social interloper that manages to insert himself into a new family. Set against the backdrop of a post one-child policy in China, Yan Shuo ingratiates himself to his friend Tu Wei’s middle class family as he spends time at their house. As details of Yan Shuo’s traumatic home life begin to present themselves, Tu Wei’s family (his mother in particular) open their home to him as a safe haven. At the same time, Tu Wei has is starting to lose his parents favor because he’s not as motivated for education and accomplishment as his parents would like. The film is packed with beautifully framed shot compositions. Coupled with the sound design, they imbue the entire film with a palpable tension. Unfortunately, I wish there had been either a deeper exploration of the themes….OR…a more definitive and satisfying conclusion. Never really felt a strong POV, from any of the characters, Yan Shuo, Tu Wei or his parents, and the ambiguous/nebulous end doesn’t create a meaningful arc for any them. There’s lots of good here, though, and might be worth checking out. 2024 RankedDegrees of Kevin Bacon: 31. Zu Feng and Fan Wei in Beginning of the Great Revival2. Fan Wei and Tim Robbins in Back to 19423. Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon in Mystic River
Common questions
What is Brief History of a Family about?+
The film explores the unsettling intrusion of a mysterious young boy into the lives of a middle-class family in China, exposing buried secrets and deep-seated tensions.
Who directed Brief History of a Family?+
The film was written and directed by Lin Jianjie, a filmmaker known for this debut psychological drama which premiered at the 2024 Berlinale.
Does Brief History of a Family have a clear ending?+
The conclusion is intentionally ambiguous, leaving the ultimate fate of the characters and the true motivations of the intruder open to interpretation.
