NAKED AS WE CAME

US, 2013, 89 minutes, Colour.

Ben Weaver, Karmine Alers, S.Lou McWilliams, Ryan Vigilant, Sturgess Adams, John Challice.

Directed by Richard LeMay.

References to the book of Job, we are born, and also we die.

The film focuses on the death of a matriarch and her estranged children. The children return, their mother very ill, the resentments towards her harsh treatment, a revelation about her early life and an affair with the politician and a forced marriage to her husband. However, she still intervenes in her children’s lives as they come to be with her.

There is also a major subplot, a relationship between the matriarch’s groundskeeper and her son, an acknowledgement of sexual orientation.

This is an independent film, a focus on family, distances, reconciliation, as well as on sexual relationships.

1. The title, the reference to the book of Job, naked at birth, death?
2. A film of family relationships, tensions, illness and death?
3. The opening in New York, apartments, the drive to the country? The country estate, vast, the house, interiors, the grounds, the greenhouses, atmosphere? The musical score?
4. The framing of the story, the opening, the narration, the senator, the son, the secrecy? And the finale, Ted, his novel, Elliot and his place in the family? The future?
5. The family situation, the absent father, making money, philandering, the laundromat business, his death? Lily, alienated from her children, not seeing them for 18 months, her living on the estate, her lifestyle, cancer, Ted living in the house, caring for her? His phoning Laura and Elliott?
6. The action confined to the house, the four characters, over a couple of days? Mention of Jeff and his final arrival and reconciliation with the Laura? The photo of Eric, stories about him?
7. Lily, her age, personality, wealthy, manner of dress, her reliance on Ted, six months, cooking, the grounds, the medication? Her reliance on him, sending his novel to Elliott for his birthday? Lily conversing her harshness and ignoring of her children in the past, Elliot and his swimming lessons to get him out of the house, not affirming Laura and her singing…? Wanting some kind of reconciliation, her apologies, her talking to each of the children, their reactions, some mellowing, Laura singing, the pinecones with the various messages, urging Laura to sing, for Elliot to try? Her manner, her wit, the pot smoking, imminent death?
8. Ben, his background, the news of the relationship with Eric, open, the photo? His novel? The revelation of his knowledge of the family, the story, looking after Lily, the approach to Elliott, the night together, the aftermath, the criticisms of suspicions of him by the two?
9. Laura, her age, bitter memories of her childhood, the estrangement from her mother, her husband leaving her, her harshness, controlling, intervening about her mother, help, wanting her to come to New York? Elliot’s attack and saying she wanted everything her way? The impact of the time with the family, the attacks on Ben, mellowing, criticisms of Elliot’s not growing up, the singing and its effect, the pot smoking, the talking? Elliot ringing Jeff and his coming, reconciliation?
10. Elliott, his age, not interested in the business, the estrangement from his mother, swimming lesson memories, wary of Ted, the night with him, the aftermath, speaking straight and abruptly, Ted backing off? talking? Interactions with Laura? Everybody condemning him for not growing up? This vehicle, weaving, talking with Ted?
11. Elliott and Ted, not the pebbles but the pinecones, the possibility of a future together? Or not? Ted and his relationship with Eric?
12. The two finding their mother dead, her wishes for cremation and scattering the ashes?
13. A film about death, dying, dysfunctional families, possibilities for remedying, for reconciliation? Hope?