7 movies about families you'll want to escape

"The Virgin Suicides"

• 2000
• US
• Drama, romance
• Director: Sofia Coppola
• Starring: Kirsten Dunst, James Woods, Kathleen Turner, Josh Hartnett
• IMDb Rating: 7.2

The Lisbon family with five teenage daughters lives in a Detroit suburb. After the suicide of their youngest sister, the parents impose strict restrictions and gradually isolate the remaining girls from school, friends, and any outside contact. The sisters become the focus of attention from neighborhood boys, who observe their surroundings from afar and try to connect with them. Attempts to communicate and venture outside the home are met with prohibitions and increasing parental control. Tensions within and around the family continue to mount, amid the seemingly peaceful suburban atmosphere.

"The film evoked such strange emotions, as if you were floating in a cute pink, extremely Herliion boat on a calm river... and suddenly the river turns into a waterfall and you crash against the rocks
like the transition from a carefree childhood to adulthood", — Itsviktory

“The devastation after the film is so profound that words cannot describe it (", — Danyellaa

"The film is ambiguous and not entirely clear without reading the book. The complete detachment of the sisters' father and the mother's idiocy depicted in the film don't provide a full understanding of why the girls committed suicide. The book, in my opinion, explains everything in more detail and establishes cause-and-effect relationships. The film's script makes it completely unclear why the first sister decided to take such a step. The film definitely gets an A+. The leisurely narrative reminded me of 'Stand by Me'", — Hana_bi

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"Home for the Holidays"

• 1995
• US
• Comedy, drama, romance
• Director: Jodie Foster
• Starring: Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Bancroft, Dylan McDermott
• IMDb Rating: 6.6

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Claudia Larson returns to her parents' home after a series of personal setbacks. The entire family gathers in one house, including her eccentric mother, distant father, and relatives with whom she has built up considerable tension. The holiday dinner quickly devolves into a series of conflicts, awkward conversations, and mutual recriminations. Claudia is forced to deal not only with family issues but also with her own expectations of life. What should have been a formality uncovers old resentments and hidden contradictions.

«…The movie is good, I remember watching it on TV in the late 90s. I've rewatched it a couple of times since then, and I'm convinced that "old" movies are better than modern ones))», — NadinBoot

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"August: Osage County"

• 2013
• US
• Comedy, drama
• Director: John Wells
• Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper
• IMDb Rating: 7.2

After the disappearance of the Weston family patriarch, his relatives gather at the family home in Oklahoma. Sitting at the same table are three daughters, their partners, and a gravely ill mother accustomed to dominating others. This forced proximity leads to the resurfacing of old grievances, family secrets, and mutual accusations. Conversations quickly escalate beyond formality and escalate into open confrontation. The home becomes the arena of a protracted conflict, where everyone is forced to confront the past.

"It's certainly not a masterpiece, but the film does a good job of conveying the pain of one family. Tearing off the bandage from the wound, thereby exposing and displaying the rotting flesh", — Naclo14

"Meryl Streep is inimitable as always!" — Temo4kin

"Great movie and actors", — Гертруда75

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"The Family Stone"

• 2005
• US
• Comedy, drama, romance
• Director: Thomas Bezucha
• Starring: Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams
• IMDb Rating: 6.3

For Christmas, the Stone family gathers at their parents' home to meet their eldest son's fiancée. This guest proves to be a complete contrast to the family's usual routine, which immediately causes tension. Each day of the holidays brings new conflicts, awkward conversations, and hidden rivalries. Mutual expectations and prejudices prevent the characters from listening to each other. The family celebration gradually turns into a test of tolerance and acceptance.

"I adore this movie, I watch it every New Year. It's a wonderful comedy, with a touch of drama, somehow warm, with a hint of sadness at the end. But to each their own, I personally like it", — Аниана

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"Margot at the Wedding"

• 2007
• US
• Comedy, drama
• Director: Noah Baumbach
• Cast: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Black, John Turturro
• IMDb Rating: 6.0

The writer Margot arrives with her son for the wedding of her sister, Pauline, who is marrying a man of dubious reputation. From the very first days of their stay, tensions between the sisters begin to mount. Margot interferes in the personal lives of those around her, provoking conflicts and awkward situations. A family weekend quickly spirals out of control. Wedding preparations become the backdrop for a showdown.

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"Dogtooth" / Κυνόδοντας

• 2009
• Greece
• Drama
• Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
• Starring: Christos Stergioglou, Michelle Valley, Angeliki Papoulia
• IMDb Rating: 7.1

A family with three grown children lives on the outskirts of the city, completely isolated from the outside world. The parents establish their own rules, language, and concept of reality, controlling every detail of life within the home. The children have never set foot outside the fence and have no contact with society. The only outsider entering the house is at the invitation of their father. This closed system begins to fray when the established boundaries are tested.

"If you're an art-house fan and not particularly impressionable, then this movie is for you", — g1499371

"A visual aid on 'What happens if you stay at home for too long?'" — wh1te_dreams

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"I’m Thinking of Ending Things"

• 2020
• US
• Mystery, thriller, horror
• Director: Charlie Kaufman
• Starring: Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette, David Thewlis
• IMDb Rating: 6.5

A young couple sets off on a long trip to Jake's parents' farm. Along the way, the girl questions her feelings and contemplates breaking up. Strange and inexplicable events begin to occur in the parents' house. The family's behavior becomes increasingly alarming. The trip gradually turns into a psychologically intense ordeal.

"A rather strange, creepy, and uncomfortable work, reeking of depression and anxiety. You watch it, and many times you think you understand everything, but this feeling constantly slips away", — wh1te_dreams

"It's beautifully filmed, but without reading the book, I think it's hard to understand what's going on (in the book, the heroine is a fantasy of the protagonist (that's why she has different names and professions), he never met her, became a school janitor, and committed suicide out of loneliness at the end). And "I'm thinking about how to end it all" - it's not she who is thinking about breaking up with Jake, but he is thinking about leaving this life", — Arrivera

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