The Descendents

The Descendents

Directed by Alexander Payne

With George Clooney, Amara Miller, Alex Woodley. Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Matthew Lillard, and Judy Greer

A drama about a family grieving over the loss of a mother might not sound like cinema amusement. But “The Descendents,” directed by Alexander Payne, is exactly that. This heartfelt film is both tragic and humorous at the same time.

The drama unfolds in Hawaii. Matt King (George Clooney) has buried himself in a real estate deal involving 25,000 unspoiled acres of Hawaiian paradise that have been owned by his extended family for generations. This land is about to be sold to a land developer. He is the trustee and must sign for the deal to go through. Meanwhile, he has also been a remote husband and father.

However, Matt is distracted. His wife, Elizabeth, has had a boating accident and lies in a coma from which the doctors say she will not recover. He now must break the news to his daughters, 10-year-old Scotty (Amara Miller), and a troublesome teenage Alexandra (Shailene Woodley). As he is reeling from this tragedy, his surly and resentful daughter Alexandra informs him that Elizabeth was cheating on him with a local real estate guy.  

Matt struggles with becoming both mother and father to his daughters as he confronts his rage towards his comatose wife. He is furious with her, but has no way to reach her, since she lies in a coma.  

In the meantime, Alexandra is accompanied by Sid (Nick Krause), a sweet but baffled looking boy, who adds comic perspective to what is going on in the family drama. Complicating Matt’s life is Elizabeth’s father (Robert Forster), who blames Matt for Elizabeth’s accident and thinks his daughter was a saint. Alexandra remains contemptuous of her father. Scotty is lost in grief.

Matt contemplates the meaning of his family heritage as he ponders whether to sign off on the sale of the family ‘Eden” on Kuai. His extended clan fully expects him to sign. He also must create a future for his own family.

George Clooney’s performance is nuanced and honest, and surely he will receive an Oscar nod. His Matt is a study of mixed emotions. Shailene Woodley is right on as the sullen daughter. Robert Forster is excellent as the father who has no where to displace his hostility except towards his son-in-law . 

Alexander Payne, whose last film was ‘Sideways,’ is a director who is a keen and tender observer of people in crisis and who understands human foibles. He seems to be saying: In life you certainly will make mistakes, but don’t let that keep you from going forward. His characters are remarkably human and real. And he is able to make us laugh throughout this beautiful, emotionally complex film that deals with tragic loss. In addition, the setting in lush Eden- like Hawaii is pure pleasure to experience on the big screen.