The Descendants: Powerful study of a family’s grief

Written by Mark Schumann, Father of Three
Thursday, 08 December 2011 15:54

Each week, the Reel Dad checks the nutritional value of a movie — new or classic — to help parents choose what to watch. This week’s pick is a new film, The Descendants.

People grieve in many ways. Any time we confront a loss in our lives — a friend, family member, home or job — we do what it takes to accept and begin again. And, when we can finally close the door on the hurt, we let ourselves feel the fresh air of a new beginning.

The air freely blows in the remarkable new film, The Descendants, but little in a positive direction for a man who faces many dimensions of grief. As Matt King’s wife lies in a hospital bed in a coma after a boating accident, he copes with the challenges of taking care of his two daughters. As a descendant of a land-owning family in Hawaii, he also faces a critical decision to sell a beautiful piece of untouched land to real estate developers.

But all the tension about this transaction feels incidental, however, when he learns that his wife was having an affair before her accident. All of a sudden, the ground he stands on becomes shaky as he tries to resolve how this could happen. But his wife’s condition deprives him of the confrontation he so desperately needs. Now he must grieve all by himself.

In The Descendants, writer/director Alexander Payne delivers such a compelling examination of grief that we are instantly moved by what the characters experience. This filmmaker, however, is too creative and savvy to let melodrama overwhelm the power of his message. He injects his story with so much humanity and natural humor that we love every minute we spend with Matt and his family. These characters become people we want to know and care for as they express their grief. Much as he did in About Schmidt and Sideways, Payne uses humor in delicate ways to reveal how much people can hurt.

The director also knows how to secure magical performers from strong actors. George Clooney delivers the performance of his career as a man trying to hold on to any anchors he can find. In every film performance, Clooney brings a quiet authenticity to his work, never letting his technique overpower his sensitivity. But never have we seen Clooney so willing to reveal a character’s raw emotions. The range of Clooney’s film work in recent years is remarkable, from Michael Clayton to Up in the Air to The American. His work is sure to be remembered at Oscar time.

Joining Clooney on the red carpet should be Shailene Woodley who delivers one of the most memorable portrayals of an adolescent in memory. She is a natural young performer who matches Clooney’s emotional intensity. Also strong are veterans Beau Bridges, as Clooney’s cousin, and Robert Forster as his father-in-law. And, visually, Payne beautifully captures the essence of Hawaii, and the fresh air it delivers to everyone lucky enough to be there.

The Descendants reminds us that, when we grieve, we only experience that fresh air once we confront what really hurts. And if, like Matt, we are deprived of the final conversation, all we can do is move forward with what we would have said had we been given the chance.

Film Nutritional Value

The Descendants

* Content: High. Writer-director Alexander Payne strikes a perfect chord in using one man’s story to explore how people grieve.

* Entertainment: High. Even though the content is sobering, a strong script and pitch-perfect cast bring rich humanity to the film.

* Message: High. The film reminds us that, in order to move forward, we must confront what hurts or we may never feel the fresh air again.

* Relevance: High. As so many people have reasons to grieve, the film strikes a strong chord with what we all must confront.

* Opportunity for Dialogue: High. After you share this film, talk with your older children about the realities of grief and what it takes to move forward.

(The Descendants is rated R for language and some sexual references. The film runs 115 minutes.)

5 Popcorn Buckets