A stage actor named Patrick Wang has produced, directed, written and starred in a very interesting film called IN THE FAMILY. Synopsis: "In the town of Martin, Tennessee, Chip Hines, a precocious six year old, has only known life with his two dads, Cody and Joey. And a good life it is. When Cody dies suddenly in a car accident, Joey and Chip struggle to find their footing again. Just as they begin to, Cody's will reveals that he named his sister as Chip's guardian. The years of Joey's acceptance into the family unravel as Chip is taken away from him. In his now solitary home life, Joey searches for a solution. "
It is showing in one tiny cinema in NYC and apparently only has the Hawaiian Film Festival as its pedigree but Wang is most surely attracting attention as a name to watch. At almost three hours the film is very static with long takes of domestic life repeatedly using the same fixed camera angles, frequent long shots of mundane activity framed off-centre, yet the acting and storytelling make it utterly compelling.
What is most fascinating is the fact that the gay parentage of the child is never an issue (except for one harrowing exchange late in the film). There may be a fleeting shadow across someone's face when the Asian Joey introduces himself as young Chip's father but it is never remarked upon.
The performances of the entire cast are terrific, particularly little Sebastian Banes as Chip, Trevor St. John as Cody and Brian Murray as a retired lawyer who befriends Joey. A great debut for Patrick Wang.
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