THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS



USA, 2001, 108 min, color

Royal Tenenbaum was a successful attorney who had three children with his wife Etheline, an archaeologist. Each of the Tenenbaum kids was a precocious genius - Chas, Richie and the adopted Margot. When Royal abruptly left his family, however, it was the beginning of two decades of betrayal and failure that would scar the Tenenbaums for life. Royal suddenly reappears, claiming to have six weeks to live and a desire to reconnect with his family. Royal's story is a sham, but his sincere desire for absolution soon has a profound effect on the Tenenbaums, who are each dealing with thwarted desires and relationships.

"The picture's creative pulse is brightly, that of Anderson, a filmmaker whose storytelling style is so fresh, so happily idiosyncratic, and so all-encompassing that it stirs up a strong response from everyone. But Anderson never demands love or attention, never demeans, never makes fun of his dollhouse family even when being funny about their extremes. Here's a movie guy whose cinematic vision gives off a personal, identifiable glow."