Family Portrait

Lucy Kerr’s debut feature is set at the dawn of Covid, examining hidden family dynamics that emerge during a planned group picture. After the mother disappears and one of the daughters becomes increasingly anxious to find her and take the picture, the rest of the family appears to resist any attempt to gather.  Initially presenting itself as a realistic portrayal of a family on an idle but hectic summer day, the film descends into a realm where time and space lose their grip, transforming the family portrait into a solemn and process of transition. “Kerr is less interested in storytelling than building moods and sensations, which she achieves through a beguiling combination of images, sounds and human bodies in motion.” (Jordan Mintzer) (kw)