Nadia Zoe directed, produced, and co-wrote A Little Family Drama. Co-writer Ramon O. Torres stars as one of the leads. As one could surmise based on that knowledge, this is a production close to the filmmakers’ hearts. But passion does not always equal good, as critical distance can help smooth over the rough bits. So, how does this comedic drama fare?
Cecilia (Diana Elizabeth Torres) has an attentive husband and a snarky teenage daughter at home. Even though she loves them very much, she feels unfulfilled. Why? The answer is that Cecilia is stuck still working at her family’s restaurant, which is owned by her grandma, Anselma (Alma Martinez), and is run by her overbearing mother, Victoria (Romi Dias). It does not help matters that Cecilia is blamed for every little thing, while her younger brother Matias (Torres) has very little responsibility and could probably get away with murder in the eyes of the matriarchs. How bad is it? Well, Victoria demands Cecilia go pick up her 30-something brother, but he’s still asleep and not ready for work. Once at the restaurant, who is blamed for “being late?” Of course, it is Cecilia, while Matias gets off with nary a dirty look.
But the annual family reunion, the first since Anselma’s husband has passed, puts just enough pressure on everyone that their simmer turns to a boil. Anselma thinks everyone needs a fresh start, while her daughter demands tradition be adhered to at all costs. Considering how stubborn both ladies are, Cecilia and Matias are caught in the middle with no idea which way to turn. Making matters worse is the fact that Mattias put the restaurant up as collateral for his automated taco truck, which fizzled. This means the family only has a few days to find the funds to pay back the loan, or the establishment will be foreclosed upon.
“…the annual family reunion, the first since Anselma’s husband has passed, puts just enough pressure on everyone that their simmer turns to a boil.”
A Little Family Drama brings to mind another recent comedy-drama centered around one dysfunctional family, Queen Of Knives. But the difference is that this film, unlike that one, knows the mother figure, in this case Victoria, is a hard-nosed, stuck-up bitch whose stubbornness and refusal to accept responsibility is harming her family. In this way, it is gratifying to see people explode at her as if Victoria truly did not understand how her behavior affects everyone else. Anselma and her constant battles with Victoria feel real.
Of course, with this being a film, most things are tidied up neatly in the end. However, the point isn’t that this is some kind of realistic portrait of events. No, the point is to see that it is possible to overcome all these personality clashes and still come together as a family when needed most. There’s something affirming and reassuring about the ending, finding hope and a path forward, even as uncertainty lies ahead.
A Little Family Drama is an enjoyable drama with a few comedic bits here and there. The characters are three-dimensional and relatable. The cast, with each actor delivering a heartfelt performance that feels natural to the situation at hand, keeps the audience engaged and invested in the story. All in all, Zoe’s first feature-length title shows an empathetic understanding of family bonds and human nature.
For more information, visit the official A Little Family Drama site.
"…an empathetic understanding of family bonds..."
