We Only Know So Much

We Only Know So Much is a touching family drama that premiered in 2018 to captivated audiences, displaying an elaborate narrative that explores the interwoven lives of its central characters. With an all-star cast including Jeanne Tripplehorn, Damian Young, and Loudon Wainwright III, the movie delicately brings to light the nuances of familial relationships, the challenges of growing older, the rippling effects of secrets kept close, and the evolutionary journey of love and redemption.

In this dramatic family portrait, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Damian Young play the roles of couple Elizabeth and Richard Copeland. They live together in a centuries old, inherited family home along with their two children, precocious Otis (Noah Schnapp) and sensitive young socialite Priscilla (Taylor Rose). Their relative tranquillity is disrupted by Jeanne's endlessly chatty mother-in-law Vivian (Virginia Robinson), Richard's senile father Gordon (Loudon Wainwright III), and the unspoken tensions that gradually emerge from their pasts, including an extra-marital affair.

Tripplehorn's character, Elizabeth, is a woman who's caught in the complexities of daily life, married yet longing for an old love, a symbol of untold stories and emotional sufferings. Her life begins to unravel amidst her efforts to manage her dysfunctional family while simultaneously avoiding an emotional crisis. Richard, portrayed by Damian Young, is a somewhat disenchanted husband grappling with encroaching midlife unfulfilled dreams, slowly drawn into the labyrinth of his father's dementia.

Ten-year-old Otis, an avid insect enthusiast and encyclopedia aficionado, acts as the narrator of the family's saga. He uses his limited but eager understanding of the adult world to try and fix his family's issues. Priscilla, on the other hand, feels trapped in the web of her own digital existence, grappling with coming-of-age challenges. Their eccentric grandfather Gordon, grappling with Alzheimer's, provides a touching subplot through his struggle with reality and transformed relationship with his son, Richard.

The poignant portrayal of Gordon by Loudon Wainwright III is of special note; presenting an affecting account of age and memory, he strums an emotional chord with his portrayal of vulnerability and intangible losses. Virginia Robinson, playing the eccentric Vivian, brings comic relief and yet a soft sentimentality to the screen, undoubtedly bolstering the richness of the movie.

We Only Know So Much throws sharp focus on the areas of domestic life that usually receive only passing contemplation. The directors (Donal Lardner Ward and Jeanne Tripplehorn) profile the full spectrum of the family's life with a subtle touch of irony, while casting a critical, empathetic eye on the blind spots of intergenerational relationships. The film explores the complexity of familial dynamics, the chaos of hidden emotions, and the sheer messiness of everyday living.

In each character's life trajectory, the film dramatizes the universal human condition of longing for connection and acceptance. It addresses the age-old question of what holds a family together, even when its members seem to be moving in conflicting directions. This movie is a harmonious blend of comedy and drama where the lines of tragedy and farce are beautifully blurred.

The setting of the old ancestral home is pivotal in the storytelling, presenting itself as an almost mystical character with a wealth of history, symbolizing the cornerstone of their collective pasts and the chaotic present. The home's nostalgic charm serves as a constant backdrop to the melodrama unfolded within its cozy nooks and corners.

Despite the intrusion of social issues such as dementia, infidelity, and the isolating effects of technology, the film retains a light-hearted tone and reserves some unexpected surprises, captivating the viewers through its twirling narrative. The nuanced performances by the actors add depth to the multi-layered film, leaving audiences ruminating over the complexities of familial bonds, parental roles, and the cost of harboring unsaid emotions.

Furthermore, the film excels in providing an authentic representation of dementia, addressing its impacts on both the individual and family unit. It takes viewers on an emotionally evocative journey, tastefully combining elements of familial discord and resolving them with threads of empathy, forgiveness, and acceptance.

"We Only Know So Much" is a gem that encourages the audience to probe deep into the complex mysteries of familial love and human connections, leaving them with food for thought long after the end credits roll. It is a beautiful testament to the complexities of life, reminding us that despite our different struggles, we all are trying to find our separate pieces of solace in this shared world.