Brief History of a Family – Movie Review
First Reaction – Brief History of a Family is a tense thriller with plenty of questions.
Where to Watch
Brief History of a Family is in UK cinemas 21 March and Irish cinemas 26 March from Blue Finch Film Releasing
Director: Jianjie Lin
Writer: Jianjie Lin (Screenplay)
Cast
- Ke-Yu Guo
- Muran Lin
- Xilun Sun
- Feng Zu
Plot: A middle-class family’s fate becomes intertwined with their only son’s enigmatic new friend in post one-child policy China, putting unspoken secrets, unmet expectations, and untended emotions under the microscope.
Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Brief History of a Family starts when Tu Wei (Lin) befriends Yan Shuo (Sun). The two attend the same school and bond over supporting each other in difficult situations. Tu Wei introduces Yan to his parents and his life in a better-off home, which leads to him becoming part of the family.
However, Tu Wei begins to question Yan’s story, and his parents are unsure about his identity. This leads them deeper into the mystery of who the stranger in their home is and leaves them with an unexpected outcome.
Verdict on Brief History of a Family
Recap
The movie follows an unlikely friendship between two classmates, and one of the boys’ parents begins to get closer to the friend. It creates a mystery as to why, before going in an unexpected direction.
Best Parts
This presents a big mystery, which is interesting to watch unfold. It also questions how well you know people who get close to you, leading to the series of unexpected events in the movie. There is a serious side to what unfolds, which helps keep things feeling a lot more grounded in reality. The performances are brilliant and keep you wanting to know how everything will unfold.
Final Thoughts –Brief History of a Family keeps you guessing until the end.