Father Mother Sister Brother - Review

Robert is Your Father's Brother.

Review written by Jack Aling

Father Mother Sister Brother is directed by Jim Jarmusch and written by Jim Jarmusch.

A comedy-drama anthology following three estranged family relationships across three countries. Won the Golden Lion at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

Jim Jarmusch I'm sorry, I did not get it.

Father Mother Sister Brother presents three short films following three complex family dynamics.

Each focuses on the mundanity of daily life with awkward small talk and unspoken secrets between close family. Though the talent is front and centre on screen, it all feels for nothing as it repeats a cycle of agonisingly dull storytelling that moves on before it allows any real connection to the characters.

The repeating structures become that much more maddening as they tick off recurring dialogue beats, repeating humourless punchlines and a strange obsession with skaters in slow motion.

Somewhere in here, there is an interesting narrative that explores what we hide from our families to present a certain version of ourselves, but this did not work for me at all.

Our verdict: 1 out of 5 stars.

Father Mother Sister Brother arrives in UK cinemas 10 April 2026.

Read more of Jack's reviews at: letterboxd.com/TheJackAling