Regardless of culture, generation, or ethnicity, when it comes to “family,” we all share some universal memories of tears and joy condensed into a dinner gathering. The nostalgia is mixed with chaotic arguments, moms gossiping about who recently got married, shouting, “Who took my spatula?!” Kids run in and out, sneaking a few cookies and taking the kitchen heat and aroma out as they pass the poker table. Stories about domestic scenarios are never-ending classics, printed with certain generational marks, but the essence remains. In his novel Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy states, "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Somehow, a hundred years later, this observation is proven true by a Mexican American family in A Little Family Drama. With an idealist, reckless son, a diligent, underappreciated daughter, a comedian uncle, an outcast, and ceaseless fights between a mother and a daughter, the Sepulvedas seem to resemble the folks in each of our families. Still, the collision of progressiveness and the lingering traditional values, ambition of self-realization, and responsibility compose captivating conflicts that bring laughter and tears to the screening room.  

Instead of pulling a whole map of the family ancestry, telling an epic of legacy and complicated relations, this film slices off an iconic scenario, the reunion dinner in remembrance of the past great-grandfather. Starting from the initial trigger of the drama, a ridiculous-genius automatic taco truck, we are eventually drawn into the closer family circle as we experience how a little problem caused by a well-intended decision rolls uncontrollably downhill into a giant snowball. With the compassion we accumulated for each of them, sitting at the dinner table to witness how the simmering trouble, secrets, and unspoken dissatisfaction burst out into a frantic, farcical mess is almost painful. Still, the suppressed tension finally reaches its boiling point and the climax, satisfying viewers’ anticipation but churning everyone onscreen into the blender with the rumbling noise, not sparing the most innocent bystanders.

Despite how much the movie moments overlap with my memories, as I started thinking about the choice of words for this review, “relatable” seemed too bland and vague. I am sure it is not the only reason our emotion strings would be so easily plucked, either. Viewers’ familiarity with “the family rebel,” “mother-daughter rivalry,” and “self-sacrificing” tropes turn them into much harsher critics that would not be satisfied with cliché, contrived conflicts, and incondite happy endings. However, thanks to both the writing and excellent acting, the characters in this story are genuinely breathing, living, and arguing. Romi Dias, who vested the grandmother's role with vigor stemming from her stubbornness, strong will, and loving nature, beautifully accomplished the character despite her young age. She and all the actors in this film interact naturally, radiating a tender warmth so smoothly that one might find it unbelievable that this is a small crew operating under an exceedingly tight schedule.

Through its harmonious color, the beauty of kinship transcends the brilliant visuals and turns this movie into a lovely family weekend movie night choice. With the trails of papel picado draping above the ruffled tablecloth, the family house and restaurant scenes are tinted with a splashy and lively glow that enriches the scenes’ warm underpaint. Over a table as such, it makes perfect sense that the actors could present a heartfelt, comforting feast of a simple story of light, hilarious, chaotic, and nonetheless touching little drama.

A Little Family Drama will be screening at the Fall 2024 New Jersey Film Festival on Sunday, September 29, 2024. For more info and tickets go here.