Family Pictures (1993/Tango DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C Documentary: B-
Based on
the Sue Miller book, Philip Saville’s TV mini-series version of Family Pictures (1993) is as timely as
ever dealing with a few generations of how one family has to deal with having
an autistic child in a big family over a period of their decades of
growth. Sam Neill and Angelica Huston
are the parents, Kyra Sedgwick and Dermot Mulroney play two of their children,
covering most of their lives to the end.
It is a
very painful, powerful, honest and even haunting three hours, with very few
problems, never becoming strained or unbelievable. I will say that Huston’s make-up and clothes
changes can seem like Joan Crawford in Mommie
Dearest, but it never hurts this production. With autism skyrocketing to levels
unimaginable since this was first broadcast, it becomes more relevant than
ever. It is worth going out of your way
for.
The 1.33
X 1 image is somewhat soft from older analog transfers with detail issues,
motion blur and aliasing issues. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 is barely stereo and passable, more like a TV recording of
the time. Trailers are the only extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
