Familjens hemlighet: A stiff, dusty family drama that feels its age

Is it worth a watch?

If you have an appetite for black-and-white domestic dramas that feel like they were filmed inside a sturdy, wooden box, then sure, jump in. But if you need pacing, excitement, or characters that don't feel like they're reading from a pamphlet on 'How to be a Proper Parent,' you're going to get bored fast. This is for the folks who like their drama served with a side of heavy moralizing and very little room to breathe.

The whole thing hinges on this big 'secret' that doesn't actually feel that scandalous to a modern viewer. Arne is a grown man, for crying out loud. The way the Ekmans treat this like the end of the world is... well, it’s a bit much.

The vibe of the house

There is a lot of sitting around in rooms that look like they haven't been aired out in a decade. You can almost smell the floor wax and old coffee. Karin Swanström brings a certain kind of stern energy that is honestly the best part of the movie. She keeps things from floating off into total boredom.

The kid—that three-year-old grandson—shows up, and everyone acts like he’s a foreign object dropped from space. It’s funny in a sad way. They look at the toddler like he’s a piece of furniture that doesn’t match the rug.

Honestly, it reminds me a bit of the stuffy, awkward family dynamics you see in Uncle's Visit, just with less humor and more scowling. It’s all very polite and very, very stifling.

Observations from the back row

• The lighting in the kitchen scene is weirdly dramatic. Like, why are we treating a conversation about a marriage announcement like it’s a murder trial?
• I swear the same chair gets moved back and forth between shots. It’s distracting once you notice it.
• There’s a moment where the dialogue just stops for way too long. Just silence. Everyone looking at their shoes. It feels less like 'deep reflection' and more like the actors forgot their next line.

It’s not as chaotic as the action in Half Shot at Sunrise, obviously, but sometimes I wished someone would just knock over a vase or scream. Just something to break the tension of the tea sets and the knitting.

It’s a movie that takes itself very seriously, which is usually a recipe for a slog. If you like classic, slightly dusty Swedish cinema, you might find something charming here. If not, it’s mostly just a lot of people being disappointed in their son. ☕️