New Showbiz

You are here:
A Family's Secret

A Family's Secret

2022

TV-PG

Director

Penelope Buitenhuis

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

While trying to save up for nursing school, Ana takes a remote post as a personal care worker for a wealthy woman with early onset dementia. But as she grows close to her new client, Joan, Ana becomes concerned that Joan's spoiled daughter, Carla, is trying to murder her to get her hands on her inheritance. Ana strikes up a romance with Joan's other adult child, Jason, who assures her Carla doesn't mean any harm, but Ana comes to realize he's deceiving her as well. Can Ana protect Joan, or will she get caught in the crossfire?

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.0/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The story centers on a heterosexual romance between Ana and Jason. There is no evidence of non-cisnormative identities or narratives that challenge heteronormativity.

Gender Representation

Fair

Ana serves as a strong female protagonist with significant moral agency. The plot subverts the caregiver role, turning it into one of an active investigator.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film explores socioeconomic tensions between a student and a wealthy family. However, specific casting details regarding ethnicity are not explicitly confirmed.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The narrative examines the breakdown of Western family structures through greed. It presents the family unit as a site of moral instability and deception.

Disability Representation

Good

Joan’s early-onset dementia acts as a central catalyst for the tension. The film explores the complex intersection of caregiving and cognitive decline.

Strengths

  • The film provides a nuanced portrayal of neurodivergence through Joan's dementia.
  • Ana is depicted as a capable protagonist with significant intellectual and moral agency.
  • The story effectively subverts traditional domestic hierarchies and caregiver roles.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
  • There is a lack of clear information regarding racial and ethnic diversity in the casting.
  • The romantic arc follows traditional, non-subversive heterosexual patterns.

AI Analysis

A Family's Secret functions as a character-driven domestic thriller that finds its strength in exploring neurodivergence and female agency. By centering the plot on Ana's investigative role, the film moves away from passive caregiver tropes. However, the narrative remains largely conventional in its romantic and social structures. It relies on traditional heterosexual frameworks and lacks explicit evidence of diverse racial or LGBTQ+ identities. Ultimately, the film succeeds in deconstructing the idealized nuclear family, replacing it with a cynical look at inheritance and familial corruption.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.