The Savages (film)

• Laura Linney: Wendy Savage
• Philip Seymour Hoffman: Jon Savage
• Philip Bosco: Lenny Savage
• Peter Friedman: Larry
• Gbenga Akinnagbe: Jimmy
• Cara Seymour: Kasia

The Savages ( Original title: The Savages ). 's An American tragedy - comedy film from 2007 directed by Tamara Jenkins, who also wrote the screenplay.

Action

The siblings Wendy and Jon live in different cities in the state of New York on the east coast of the USA. Your father Lenny have not seen them for years, he lives with his partner Doris in sunny Arizona. Doris is accordingly and has a hospice nurse, who is also a bit of care to the old man - until he also shows signs of dementia. Lenny comes to the hospital, Wendy will be notified.

The siblings wrestle with it. Lenny was anything but a good father, he had left the two early. The experiences of childhood have a wedge between the children and the father driven, so that Wendy and Jon have not only geographically far away from him. Jon works as a lecturer in philosophy at the University, Wendy holds as time worker on Water and writes plays. Both have a partner, but Jon does not dare to marry his threatened deportation of Polish girlfriend and Wendy's friend is happily married to another. You get clear, but happily they are not, rather it seems that they are blocked on an emotional and professional level.

When Doris died shortly afterwards, the siblings travel to Arizona to attend the funeral. There they open the survivors of Doris, Lenny the death of Doris ' can expect nothing. Everything belonged to her, he can not return to the jointly inhabited house. Wendy and Jon have to assume the full burden of the care of her father. Visit him in the hospital and begin to build the first new band to the old man.

Jon found him a very simple nursing home in Buffalo near Jon's house. The abrupt change of his condition from the desert climate of Arizona for more rainy climate of New York Lenny coped relatively well, but his dementia continues to progress. Wendy pulls temporarily with Jon and trying to find a better home for her father. As a visit to a ' prettier ' home fails colossal, Jon tells her that they do not Lenny sake of something better looking, but to soothe their feelings of guilt.

Lenny feels while in the home relatively well. The siblings get there more and try to make his life as comfortable as possible. There are always misconceptions and misunderstandings, the communication does not work well. Sometimes Lenny does not recognize his own daughter. Soon after, he dies. Wendy returned to New York City. Their affair with the married Larry seems to have ended.

Six months later, Wendy has incorporated the common family history in a play and working on his production in a small theater. On -route to a conference in Europe Jon makes the rehearsals a stopover. He is his girlfriend in Poland reunion and her family to know. The film ends with a scene of jogging ends Wendy, in tow the newly operated dog Larry, to this really wanted to sleep.

Reviews

Todd McCarthy wrote in the journal Variety January 21, 2007 Tamara Jenkins observe wisely, appropriately and to take care of the dynamics of the relationship of two siblings who are forced to the Father with humor. The depictions of Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman were " excellent". Many viewers might find the many scenes in a nursing home depressing.

Awards

Tamara Jenkins won a prize from the Flanders International Film Festival in 2007 for the screenplay. The film was nominated for the Grand Prix of the same festival. At the ceremony for the Independent Spirit Awards 2008, the film is in the categories of direction, lead actor ( Philip Seymour Hoffman ), represented screenplay and camera. The Satellite Awards 2007 Actress Laura Linney was nominated, at the announcement of nominations for the Oscars 2008 Linney were considered as best actress and Jenkins for the film script again.

Background

The film was shot in City Sun City (Arizona ), Buffalo (New York) and in New York. Its world premiere took place at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2007. On 10 September 2007 he was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival 2007, the number of other film festivals - including The Times BFI London Film Festival in October 2007 - was followed. The screenings in selected cinemas in the United States started on 28 November 2007, the theatrical release in Germany followed on April 24, 2008.