In the Family (2011)

When his partner Cody dies in a car accident, Joey learns that their son, Chip, has been willed to Cody's sister. In his now solitary home life, Joey searches for a solution. The law is not on his side, but friends are.

Director:

Patrick Wang

Writer:

Patrick Wang

Stars:

Sebastian Banes, Patrick Wang, Trevor St. John

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sebastian Banes	...	Chip Hines (as Sebastian Brodziak)
Patrick Wang	...	Joey Williams
Trevor St. John	...	Cody Hines
Lisa Altomare	...	Betsy
Susan Kellermann	...	Marge Hawks
Conan McCarty	...	Ed
Harriett D. Foy	...	Sharon
Zachary Sayle	...	Brent
Lovie Simone Taylor	...	Julie
Georgie DeNoto	...	Dennis
Jake Bennett Siegfried	...	Tim
Juliette Angelo	...	Erin (as Juliette Allen-Angelo)
Cole Savitz-Vogel	...	Blake Robey
Eisa Davis	...	Anne Carter
Peter Hermann	...	Dave Robey

Storyline

In the town of Martin, Tennessee, Chip Hines, a precocious six year old, has only known life with his two dads, Cody and Joey. And a good life it is. When Cody dies suddenly in a car accident, Joey and Chip struggle to find their footing again. Just as they begin to, Cody's will reveals that he named his sister as Chip's guardian. The years of Joey's acceptance into the family unravel as Chip is taken away from him. In his now solitary home life, Joey searches for a solution. The law is not on his side, but friends are. Armed with their comfort and inspired by memories of Cody, Joey finds a path to peace with the family and becomes closer to his son.

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Plot Keywords:

queer cinema | car accident | tennessee | six year old | homosexual | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 2011 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Yonkers, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$101,934

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$101,934

Company Credits

Production Co:

In the Family

Technical Specs

Runtime:

169 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though the story is set in Tennessee, the movie was filmed entirely at locations within New York State, including Yonkers, New York City, and Westchester County.

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Goofs

Many of the questions asked of Joey Williams during his Deposition (e.g. Did you have a violent past as a child? Did you seduce Cody Hines?) would have been objected to by his attorney as being irrelevant.

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Soundtracks

Everything I Need
Written and performed by Andy Wagner
Courtesy of Tense Forms
By arrangement with Mockingbird Mocks The Ice Cream Man (ASCAP)

User Reviews

A character study with an original and powerful theme of justice

This is an original, quietly powerful first movie by Patrick Wang. A true work of art, showing the power of moral justice over legal justice. The climactic scene in the 'courtroom' is amazing. Joey's achingly simple openness is how I want to be. I didn't find it political, or PC or non-PC. It's just (just! how rare) a story about some good people having to resolve important conflicts.

If I have a criticism it is that the sound was muddy and there was a little too much 'sound design'...footsteps, table settings, etc. were much too noticeable; voices not so clear.

And yes, it could have been a little tighter in the first half - somewhat slow.

But these are minor cavils about a wonderful film