Family Resemblances
Seen it?1996 | 110 min | Comedy
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 9 times its budget, despite almost no lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 50 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An upper middle-class French family celebrates a birthday in a restaurant. In one evening and during one meal, family history, tensions, collective and separate grudges, delights, and memories both clash and coalesce.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
89% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$35 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 3K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Cédric Klapisch
- Jean-Pierre BacriHenri Ménard
- Jean-Pierre DarroussinDenis
- Catherine FrotYolande Ménard
- Agnès JaouiBetty Ménard
- Claire MaurierLa mère
- Wladimir YordanoffPhilippe Ménard
- Alain GuilloLe présentateur TV
- Cédric KlapischLe père en 1967
- Antoine ChappeyNeighbor of the estate
- Sophie SimonLa mère en 1967