If you can get through a very tense first act, the action starts to smooth out. The family members’ beef with one another begins to make sense as more details come out about Leo’s death and how he was the glue that held them all together. As a story, Pulick’s screenplay covers a vast range of family issues, and the subtlety of this is perfect. The Frankels feel like a real family and not a cast of characters designed solely to cover all the dramatic bases.
What makes The World Without You stand out from other family dramas is their Jewish heritage and culture, which finds itself seeping into the conflicts. The clashes center on faith or lack thereof, the state of Israel and the Palestinian conflict, the importance or uselessness of tradition, and the role of family, mainly as it involves outsiders—those that married into the Frankel dysfunction. I’m not Jewish, but I found it all so fascinating and familiar as well.
“…it makes excellent use of a group of seasoned actors who’ve been in the acting game for a while.”
The third act offers the most touching moments of the story as Leo’s reasoning for going to Iraq is uncovered. It felt a little too unbelievable, serving as a convenient plot device to resolve the film. That said, it does turn into a touching moment with a powerful impact.
The acting is excellent throughout the cast. As an indie film, it makes excellent use of a group of seasoned actors who’ve been in the acting game for a while. Independent films like this serve to push them into the spotlight and out of supporting roles.
The World Without You is worth watching. If you come from a highly dysfunctional family, the first act might induce panic attacks, but it’s worth enduring until the end. No matter how much parents and siblings drive us crazy, they’re still family. Family is a touchy subject, but no one wants to see a movie about a family that gets along, right?
"…the perfect blend of passive-aggressive and outright-aggressive behavior."
