- The Thing About My Folks
Infobox Film
name = The Thing About My Folks
caption = "The Thing About My Folks" film poster
director =Raymond De Felitta
writer =Paul Reiser
starring =Peter Falk Paul Reiser Olympia Dukakis
producer =Paul Reiser
distributor =Picturehouse
budget =
released =2 June 2005 (Seattle International Film Festival)
runtime = 96 min.
language = English
imdb_id = 0429177
"The Thing About My Folks" is a 2005
film directed byRaymond De Felitta .Plot summary
In the beginning of the movie, Muriel Kleinman leaves her husband Sam suddenly, only leaving a note on the fridge, explaining that she's left to be alone, not knowing where she's going, and stating that Sam is the reason their marriage fell apart. While Ben's wife and his three sisters try to find her, Ben takes Sam on a day trip to see a farmhouse that's for sale. The day trip turns into a road trip while dad and son explore their past, their relationship, and why Sam's wife might have left him. The road trip includes fishing, drinking, playing pool, sleeping under the stars, and frank discussion.
After the night under the stars, When Sam awakes, he finds Ben on the phone with the hospital. Muriel went on vacation, and had a few leisurely days by herself, but began blacking out. The doctors give her 6 months, and Ben & Sam visit Muriel at the hospital. Sam explains he never knew that he cared too little, and Muriel explains that she left to see if she could, that she didn't want to be taken for granted anymore. When Muriel gets out of the hospital, Sam surprises everyone by changing for his wife, and the movie ends with a narration by Ben. Muriel lived through the summer, and Ben has never seen his parents happier in their life. When Muriel dies, Sam moves in with Ben and the rest of the family, and they enjoy life together for a while, before one day Sam himself passes away . Ben and his wife have another child, and they name him Martin Samuel Kleinman after both his parents, and the movie ends with Sam saying that although Martin Samuel will never meet his grandparents, Ben will make sure he knows all about them.
Conclusion
The film shows the shared gravestone for the elder Kleinmans, and at the bottom, it bears the following inscription in
Hebrew testifying to the giving and compassionate relationship that Ben's parents truly had with each other.:"מה שלי שלך ומה שלך שלי":"What is mine is yours and what is yours is mine"
Main cast
*
Peter Falk – Sam Kleinman
*Paul Reiser – Ben Kleinman
*Olympia Dukakis – Muriel Kleinman
*Elizabeth Perkins – Rachel KleinmanExternal links
* [http://www.myfolksmovie.com/ Official site]
*imdb title|id=0429177|title=The Thing About My Folks
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