Film: The Descendants

George Clooney

Directed by Alexander Payne, The Descendants is a sad, thoughtful, often funny film, which examines relationships in a rich, but loveless family when the mother is critically injured in a boating accident.

Hardworking, but emotionally muffled lawyer Matt King, played very well by George Clooney, suddenly finds himself having to get to know and look after his troubled brattish, teenage daughter Alex (Shallene Woodley) and neglected little ten year-old girl Scottie (Amara Miller). Soon more shocking information about his wife comes to light. At the same time Matt is under pressure from relatives to sell a beautiful piece of coastland that has been in the family for generations - while conservationists want it to remain undeveloped.

The setting, on the Hawaiian Islands - not seen that often in cinema from this perspective - is interesting and very beautiful.

There are some beautifully observed scenes and each of the main characters is well drawn. Alex's boyfriend Sid, (Nick Krause) who behaves in a very clumsy and inappropriate manner to start with, eventually demonstrates that he is not so insensitive - the message here I suppose being don't judge people by their appearances. As he did in Michael Clayton - Clooney manages to look quite unglamorous much of the time.

As the story unfolds, the three main characters in this film, Matt and his daughters, grow in awareness of themselves and love for each other. This film is an exploration of love, honesty, anger, forgiveness, reconciliation and hope.