As They Made Us

As They Made Us is a 2022 American drama film written, directed, and produced by Mayim Bialik in her feature directorial debut. The film stars Dianna Agron, Simon Helberg, Candice Bergen, Dustin Hoffman, Julian Gant, Charlie Weber, and Justin Chu Cary. The plot follows Abigail (Agron) and the last moments she and her family spend with her dying father (Hoffman). It was released in theaters and on VOD by Quiver Distribution on April 8, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics.
Synopsis
A series of flashbacks showcase Abigail's childhood and upbringing. In the present, Abigail is a divorced mother of two. A specialist recommends she hire a caregiver for her parents, Barbara and Eugene, when the latter loses his ability to walk. Another doctor puts Eugene in hospice and says he has six months to live, devastating Barbara.
Abigail visits her estranged brother, Nathan. Nathan talks to Eugene but refuses to visit Barbara. Abigail begins a relationship with Jay, a landscaper. Eugene confesses his love for Barbara before passing away a few days later. Abigail and Barbara attend his funeral, but Nathan is emotionally unable to attend himself. Abigail argues with Nathan for leaving her alone during this emotionally difficult time. Six months later, Nathan invites Abigail to his daughter's graduation party and they reconnect.
Cast
Dianna Agron as Abigail, a harried and struggling divorcee and mother of two sons
Simon Helberg as Nathan, Abigail's estranged brother
Candice Bergen as Barbara, Abigail's difficult mother
Dustin Hoffman as Eugene, Abigail's father whose health is failing
Justin Chu Cary as Jay, a landscaper who Abigail is attracted to
Charlie Weber as Peter, Abigail's unsupportive ex-husband
Julian Gant as Garrick, Eugene's full-time in-home care nurse
John Wollman as Dr. Ashkenazy, Eugene's original physician
Sweta Keswani as Dr. Patel, a neurologist that Barbara goes to for a second opinion
Production
In September 2019, it was reported that actress Mayim Bialik would make her feature writing and directing debut with the drama film As Sick as They Made Us. In November 2019, it was announced that Dustin Hoffman, Candice Bergen, Simon Helberg and Olivia Thirlby would star. In a December 2020 interview, Bialik said it will be filmed after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2021, it was reported that Dianna Agron had replaced Thirlby due to schedule disruption caused by the pandemic. In June 2021, Justin Chu Cary and Charlie Weber joined the cast as filming commenced in New Jersey.
The film was reportedly inspired by Bialik's own experience with her father's death a few years prior.
Release
In February 2022, the film was acquired by Quiver Distribution, which released it in theaters and on video on demand on April 8, 2022.
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 81% of 21 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100 based on eight critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
The New York Times gave the film a positive review, describing it as an "engagingly compassionate directorial debut" and praising the ensemble's adept performances, particularly Agron's portrayal. In her review for RogerEbert.com, film critic Christy Lemire gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars and. She notes that the film finds stronger moments in understated scenes, allowing for nuanced character dynamics. She highlights an initial unevenness in the movie's pacing, stemming from the alternating narrative structure but acknowledges the film's effectiveness in portraying everyday moments and the sensitive handling of themes related to loss and family dynamics, with Agron's performance particularly noteworthy.
Variety praised Agron's subtle performance and acknowledged Bialik's strategic use of seasoned actors like Hoffman and Bergen. The review commends the director's adept handling of storytelling rhythms and the film's insights into grief and relationships, although it notes that finds it leaves a "minor, even inconsequential" impression compared to other films in its thematic genre. William Bibbiani of The Wrap critic praised Bialik's "impressive feature debut," describing it as a "sensitive portrayal of end-of-life care." He highlighted that Bialik finds a "shocking amount of pity" for the protagonist's abusive parents and lauded Bergen's standout performance as a self-centered matriarch. While acknowledging some unevenness in the film's construction, particularly in attempts to de-age Hoffman and editing nuances, Bibbiani underscored its triumph as a character-driven showcase.
The Jerusalem Post labeled the film as "very Jewish" and highlighted its relatability, stating that "nearly everyone will see themselves – or at least, aspects of themselves – among the characters." Commending Hoffman's transformative depiction of a man's delayed self-discovery, as well as Bergen's portrayal of an amusingly irksome mother, the review also praised the skillful interplay of comedy and tragedy within scenes. The review acknowledged minor flaws but concluded that the well-paced film effectively engendered viewer empathy for the characters' journey towards catharsis.
Richard Roeper of the Chicago-Sun Times delivered a less favorable critique, giving the film a 2 out of 4 rating. Acknowledging the commendable cast and Bialik's skilled pacing, he described the film as "depressingly downbeat," attributing discomfort to the thoroughly unlikeable and irredeemable characters portrayed by Hoffman and Bergen. Roeper highlighted the authentic dialogue and strong performances, yet emphasized the persistent somber atmosphere, ultimately suggesting that Abigail's better course might have been to distance herself from her troubled past. Writing for LA Weekly, Michael Atkinson commented on the recurring theme of generational films, noting how Hollywood's late Baby boomer/early Gen X cohort's current focus was on movies about aging parents. Discussing the film's portrayal of parental dysfunction, he pointed out moments of sensitivity juxtaposed with pop-culture humor that occasionally feels excessive.
References
External links
2022 films
2022 drama films
American drama films
Films about families
Films about dysfunctional families
Films about death
Films about Jews and Judaism
2022 directorial debut films
Films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Films shot in New Jersey
Quiver Distribution films
2020s American films
2020s English-language films