The Family Tree

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J M @jeffmarshallmovieblogger 01/17/2024 This is one of those rare movies that legitimately works due to the authenticity of the actors even though it asks you take leaps of logic that rival the size of the Grand Canyon. It's not particularly well made cinematically - some scenes run on way too long and there's some issues with the editing - but I have a gut feeling that it's more the fault of a small budget rather than filmmaker incompetence. And it's admittedly short on subtlety - a line in the middle of the movie immediately convinced me how the movie would end. And I wasn't wrong. Oh, yes, the ending - a year's worth of soap opera drama in 20 minutes. All that said, I really did end up caring for the three leads and the little family they create amongst themselves. They are genuinely good people just looking for happiness, and although it's definitely rough at times, it eventually won me over. See more 12/27/2020 The Family Tree: A Review It's Christmas Eve, actually Christmas morning now, around 3 am. Earlier, my partner and I had a sumptuous Christmas Eve dinner, a crown roast of pork, which we both cooked and decorated with paper frills made out of leftover Christmas wrappers. After that, we watched the Pope's Midnight Mass, live-streamed earlier because of COVID. Then, onto a gay Christmas-themed movie we found earlier by googling "queer Christmas movies." It was one of about 15 films that popped up but the only one we haven't seen, thanks to our Christmas tradition of watching gay movies to make our yuletide gay. So, yeah, no Scrooge or Shoot-your-eye-out Ralphie movies in our Holiday household. Our Christmas Eve movie's title is THE FAMILY TREE, written and directed by Jorge Ameer, a Panamanian filmmaker whose previous collection of shorts, called "Straight Men and the Men Who Love Them," we've seen and… love. Heavily boozed eggnog in hand, we start the movie. Oh my! Opening credits boast of the many awards the film has won: New York, Los Angeles, and Venice. Good on ya, Jorge! And then, as we hear a magnificent organ-accompanied Oh Come All Ye Faithful, the scene soft dissolves into close-ups of a festively decorated Christmas tree. I took a huge gulp of my eggnog, already swept into the Christmas spirit. My partner snickered, a private joke, we sing this song pronouncing "Come "as "C--m." And so it begins, the story of Victor Gardel, a man a plan and a canal, who, according to the Star-wars-like crawling opening credits, builds life-size dolls filled with explosives which would be set off as an offering to Father Christmas. It's a Panamanian holiday tradition, but I could think of a certain American someone who deserved to be effigied and fire-crackered out! Victor, played by actor Keith Roenke, is introduced bicycling around beautiful Panama. Silhouetted against a red-hued Panama scenery, he cuts a stunning figure, classic Roman profile, impressive against his long windblown cherubic-curled hair! (Note to self: as soon as travel is allowed, visit Panama!) Next, we see him putting together a life-size Santa, taking it out to a parking lot and igniting it, built-in firecrackers exploding in rapid ear-splitting sequence. Throughout these scenes, voice-over narrations were used effectively, contributing to the storytelling, explaining Victor's state of mind, his physical predicaments… foreshadowing us of his journey. Alina, Victor's best friend, played by actress Anais Lucia is introduced next. A f--g hag, because I can tell one a mile away. Stunningly beautiful, fabulous dresser, she and Victor apparently had intimate sex a long time ago, but are now the best of friends. See? A f--g hag, although at this point, Victor, according to the movie's narrative, is still a straight man. Whatever! Anyway, it's Alina's birthday, and Victor surprises her with a Santagram, the hired Santa being the third central character in this movie, Roy, played by actor Michael Joseph Nelson. Like Victor, this one's gorgeous, sweet-smelling, like a gift of frankincense! Here, he is supposed to play someone who was just abandoned by a Panamanian girlfriend, so he is now a homeless, undocumented British man who speaks with no hint of a British cadence at all. But this is a fairy tale. Who cares about the accent? Moving on! Victor, who works at an animal rescue center, offers Roy his home as a temporary shelter and, like the genuinely empathetic animal lover that he is, rescued Roy from being deported by offering marriage, same-sex marriage being legal in Panama. Being the decent man he is, Roy hemmed and hawed about it for a few hours, then said yes! On Christmas Eve, a civil ceremony was done with a city clerk officiating. At this point, I'd like to say that the actors' chemistry was so undeniable, even the clerk who looks suspicious about the whole wedding thing looked convinced that Victor and Troy are genuinely in love. Why I have never seen on-screen chemistry this iconic since Jessica Lang and the King Kong ape! Seriously, my partner and I were in tears watching this scene, totally buying the love! (Note to producers: Hire these actors! They are that good!). Home from the civil ceremony, drunk from the celebratory drinks they must have had, and then, drinking some more to, ahem, prevent dehydration, they had their first wedding dance. It was so romantic, it brought me to my own first dance wedding! Then they had sex! Two manly men enjoying each other's manliness to the most superior degree! To the actors and the director's credit, the scene was portrayed with taste and sensitivity. I could feel Victor's happiness and horniness. I could feel Roy's feeling of gratitude and willingness to return what this kind man did to him, in ways that only a decent and totally selfless human being could do. Of course, the following day was reality setting in. When he asked if they could do it again, Roy told Victor that "he only did that for him," an honest, straight man's answer! But there is a bathtub scene afterward that, in my opinion, made up for the night-after awkwardness and was filmed magnificently! As stilted or contrived as the plot development may seem, the narrative progressed to Victor and Alina getting married. Victor finds out he is barren, and the couple asks their besty Victor if he can be their surrogate. "As in donating my sperm?" Victor asks. "No! As in f--king my wife!" Roy's thought balloon shouts. I actually agree with Roy. What better way to really connect with each other, right? I almost had this experience for real, but I backed out—she had hairy t--ts! Anyway, the threesome was so beautifully done, candles and wines and all. No porn-hub thing here! Director Jorge can produce our porn if he wants to. I'll end my review here simply because I don't want to rob any of you of the genuinely heartbreaking, disturbingly shocking ending of this masterpiece of a movie. Filmmaker Jorge Ameer and his actors should be really proud of their works here. It's a must-see for everyone, except kids. And for the voting members of the Oscars, the Golden Globes, the Spirit Awards, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Merry Christmas! See more 12/17/2020 Life, Family and Friends I have been a huge fan of Panamanian director Jorge Ameer since I first began reviewing and, in fact, one of his films was one of the first I ever reviewed. I am lucky that Ameer gives me an early shot at his films just as he has done with his newest film "The Family Tree". I have watched Ameer and his films mature, I never know what to expect with an Ameer film—- his range is so wide and diverse. I was truly in the mood for a sensitive film and that is what "The Family Tree" is. It is also the best film he has made as yet. The plot is amazing, the cinematography is lush, the music is sublimely divine and the production as a whole is stunning. However, because of the nature of the plot, I can't say too much without giving something away and I want everyone to have the same beautiful experience I had watching it. Roy (Michael Joseph Nelson) is married to Alina (Anais Lucia) in this Christmas story. They are eager to bring a child into the world but, it is just not happening for them. Victor (Keith Roenke), comes into their lives and changes everything. The three main characters' lives become intertwined through a series of events that are unsuspected and strongly brings them together and perhaps bring happiness to Roy and Alina. I could not help being drawn into the emotions of what I was watching. As the story moves forward, it touches the viewer evoking emotions especially when we meet Victor, a young workaholic animal rescuer for a local shelter. He is lonely and also an immigrant and he loves the Christmas holidays. When he was a child, Victor made dolls for the holidays, a Panamanian tradition. This year will be really special for him—- he will find love, friendship and especially family. That Christmas something otherworldly enters the world as part of an old Panamanian tradition and through that Victor learns a great deal as does the audience. I love the inclusion of an old Panamanian tradition that is still practiced today. Watching what happens on screen reminds us that we cannot let ourselves forget our good memories and how important it is to be with those who we love. The performances are unforgettable all around. In no way did I expect the sensations that the film delivered and it is with tears of sensitivity in my eyes that I am writing this review. Seeing the beauty of the film reinforces that there is never enough beauty in our lives. "The Family Tree" is currently competing for the Oscars, Golden Globes, Spirit Award, Glaad Awards, NAACP Awards, AFI Awards the Peabody and has already won awards 28 festival and film awards to date. See more Read all reviews

The Family Tree

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