Family Obligations

I wish more people made movies like this. A story with real characters in realistic situations that are told with nuance and compassion. There are some good laughs, some genuine moments of drama, and you leave very satisfied.

I don't know where these smaller character stories have gone, but I miss them. Good acting, good script. A nice film to watch when you're tired of the comic book movies out there now.

It's good to remember why family and people are important. The movie is funny and touching without being too sentimental, and it keeps things authentic. I'm glad I found it.

The story could have been very touching, and the characters very deep. Instead, we get a romantic comedy that is thinly disguised as a family drama. The technical aspects are very homemade quality. There are many shots that fringes severely that even footage shot on a mobile phone would look better. There is another shot that you can see the edge of the filter on the lens as well. Overall, this may be fine for a student project, but not as a theatrical release.

Few films really capture ordinary people's lives, how they interact, how they talk to one another, or how they feel about themselves. This film does that in small moments that feel like we're seeing their lives unfold before our eyes. A very enjoyable film.

I enjoyed Family Obligations. Its story is quite simple but heartfelt. The same can be said of the performances. As with most low budget features, there are some technical issues which detract from the viewing experience slightly - namely some off audio and a couple of missteps with camera. Another (very understandable) issue is the lack of locations, which preclude us from seeing the male lead at home and help to tell his story. A couple of scenes were quite long where they could have been made zippier for the same result. In particular the restaurant and the park scene that follows. None of this takes away from the story, and I actually enjoyed the interaction from the two leads. I was expecting some photographs to be 'Chekov's Gunned' in there, but it was just a distraction.

Glad I stumbled upon this film. Funny, touching, and makes you think about your family and the relationships in your life that you've left behind. Chris Mollica is great as Peter, a man who thought he had seen the last of his family until his father's death brings him back to his hometown. Soon after reconnecting with his Uncle Frank, played by Frank Failla, Peter finds that he suddenly wants the connection he thought he had given up on. The acting is solid, there are some funny moments, and the ending gives you hope for this man trying to put his life together. I highly recommend it.