'Other People', 2016

Last night I made the mistake of watching ‘Other People’ (2016) on Netflix, directed by Chris Kelly. It was only a mistake because I was in a good mood - and this is an exquisitely sad movie. The film is about the Mulcahey family, whose mother Joanne has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. David, a gay man in his late 20s, leaves his job as a comedy writer in New York city to move back to his hometown of Sacramento and help take care of his mother. David came out to his family several years before the start of the movie, but is still facing the repercussions with his father, who still refuses to acknowledge David’s sexuality and the existence of his boyfriend Paul.

Some things I liked: It’s hard to watch David and his family struggle with this diagnosis and what it means for their family, but gets easier once David finally reaches out for support from one of his hometown friends, Gabe (also a gay man). And the younger brother of that friend (played by Josie Totah) is an understated hero of the movie - his flamboyant drag/dance performance will have you laughing for sure. The movie’s ability to balance these highs and lows is its main strong point, as well as its ability to do this in an honest and realistic way. At one point in the film, David says to his friend “This all just feels like something that happens to other people.” Gabe (who lost his own mother before the start of the movie) replies “Yeah, well, now you’re ‘other people’ to other people!”

Some things I didn’t like: The movie starts in media res, with the family’s final moments with Joanne, so I should have known from the start that I’d be ugly crying throughout this movie. But I still wasn’t prepared, and that’s why I feel the need to warn future viewers! (Also, this is just my own personal issue, but every time I saw Jesse Plemons’ face, I couldn’t stop seeing the bad guy from the ‘USS Callister’ episode of Black Mirror).

The five words I would use to describe this film: serious, bittersweet, evocative, moving, vulnerable

My queer take: Viewers will alternate between crying for Joanne and her family as she struggles through chemotherapy treatment, and crying for David’s loneliness and the lack of support from his homophobic father. But just because this movie is sad doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a watch. (Just make sure you watch it when you’re already sad or need a good cry!). The movie is beautiful in its own way, and balances these many issues with small spurts of humor throughout. ‘Other People’ received positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with 80% of audiences and 86% of critics enjoying the film.

CW: depictions of chemotherapy treatment (and its associated side effects)

Fun fact: The movie is based loosely on the death of director Kelly’s own mother, in 2009. He even said that Molly Shannon’s resemblance to his own mother was so strong that he felt “weird” directing her, due to the similarities.

Fun (queer) fact: This movie features two queer cast members, John Early (who plays David’s friend Gabe), and Josie Totah (who plays Gabe’s younger brother Justin). Yay for queer representation!