‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ Review: Jim Jarmusch’s Charming Treble
Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother” unfolds as a quietly captivating exploration of familial dynamics, presented in an episodic structure that subtly reveals profound themes of generational understanding and unspoken histories. Teh film, shot by Frederick Elmes and Yorick Le Saux, achieves a consistently beautiful visual style despite its deliberate focus on moments where “nothing is apparently happening.” The editing, by Affonso Gonçalves, imbues even the silences with a comic timing, creating an immersive experience that feels both natural and carefully constructed.
The film initially presents two distinct sibling pairings. The first features Jeff and Emily (played by Adam Driver and Blanchett), navigating a strained visit with their aging father.The conversation repeatedly stalls, with Emily attempting to share news of her promotion only to be interrupted by her brother, Tim, and his sister, Lilith, whose own professional anecdotes feel suspiciously embellished – a typical youngest-child maneuver.
The narrative then shifts geographically and emotionally to Paris,where twins Billy (Luka Sabbat) and Skye (Indya Moore) revisit their recently deceased parents’ apartment. Billy has already cleared out most of their belongings, leaving only a small box of mementos. As thay wander the empty rooms, a believable and eccentric sibling chemistry emerges, mirroring the dynamic between Driver and Blanchett, and Krieps and Blanchett in earlier segments. Jarmusch’s skill with ensemble work is notable,ensuring that every interaction feels authentic.
This shift in location isn’t a departure, but rather Jarmusch’s masterstroke. It allows the film to delve into richer themes of parental and intergenerational incomprehension, offering a glimpse into the potential future for Jeff and Emily, and Tim and Lilith – all of whom harbor quiet anxieties about their parents’ aging.
As the film progresses, the rhythm slows and the mood becomes more reflective, even elegiac, as Billy and Skye mourn their parents while concurrently uncovering previously unkown aspects of their lives. The film posits that “a lot, [that] all of us don’t know about our parents.” This idea is reinforced by the fact that all three sibling pairs are visiting locations central to their parents’ lives: Billy and Skye, though carrying US passports, spent part of their childhoods in Paris; Jeff and Emily are outsiders in their father’s isolated home; and Tim and Lilith have moved to Dublin to be near, but not live with, their English mother.
Jarmusch extends his compassionate gaze in both directions, acknowledging the perspectives of both the older and younger generations. Ultimately,”Father Mother Sister Brother” arrives at a serene and surprisingly practical conclusion: perhaps the most valuable gift a parent can give their children is a collection of little secrets,hinting at the fullness and complexity of a life lived beyond their children’s awareness.
