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Rating: And finally, I was struck by a straightforward and unadorned film that knows nothing of rhetoric and tackles an uncomfortable subject head-on. If you're willing to leave the cinema with a somber and reflective expression, then go see "The Savages".
Tamara Jenkins is direct and essential in her portrayal of an American family facing a dramatic moment that sooner or later almost everyone must confront. John and Wendy are two siblings in their forties who lead tragically normal lives, occupied by their respective jobs. They are dissatisfied because they have not managed to succeed professionally, and their love lives are simply a disaster. Suddenly, they are forced to take care of their father, who suffers from dementia and is no longer self-sufficient. In the typical American film, this moment of difficulty would coincide with the spark, the turning point that changes their lives, and perhaps there would even be a happy ending with fireworks. Instead, Tamara Jenkins hurts us, she hits us hard and repeatedly because what we see is reality. The two children are not wealthy enough to care for their father and are faced with an alternative that certainly does not delight them but is the only one they can take.
Amidst the search for a decent nursing home and one within their budget, the uncomfortable truth emerges in a heated and heartfelt dialogue between the siblings. "A nursing home is a terrible place. They can beautify it as much as they want and make it appear like a paradise, but in the end, this illusion is only for us. For us, the children, who, seeing a well-kept lawn, find peace of mind and believe we have done enough. But the truth is, it's not a good place: people die here far from home and perhaps alone".
The relationship between the dying father and his children is incredibly realistic and raw. It truly feels like living through a harrowing situation, and during the movie, as I turned and looked at my parents, I almost began to cry. Will I be so altruistic, and will I have enough money to have someone take care of them while I work? Will I be able to let them die at home and feel all my love, or will I also be forced to live through this dreadful situation?
To deal with such a subject with this level of honesty and strength, it takes actors of great caliber, and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney prove to be superior performers. Even the elderly Philip Bosco perfectly embodies a grumpy and irritable man well aware he has reached the end of his life. Effective in dialogue and featuring an excellent soundtrack by Stephen Trask, "The Savages" is a great film, even in its ending, which offers us a minimum of hope and serenity.
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