Surviving Family
Surviving Family is a 2012 American drama about the effects of mental illness and alcoholism on the fictional Malone family. It was directed by Laura Thies and written by Mara Lesemann. The film stars Billy Magnussen, Sarah Wilson, Tara Westwood, Bill Sage, Johnny Hopkins, J. D. Williams, Vincent Pastore, Phyllis Somerville, and Katherine C. Hughes. "Surviving Family" premiered at the 2012 Woods Hole Film Festival, where it was the Runner Up for the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature. It was released on iTunes on August 15, 2014. Plot. "Surviving Family" counterpoints romance and comedy as it examines  the dramatic role of alcoholism, mental illness, and suicide in the lives of the fictional Malone family. Terry Malone (Sarah Wilson) shows up unannounced on her father's doorstep - with her fiancé (Billy Magnussen) and a plan to get married in 5 days. She learns that she's not the only one in the family with secrets. As Terry struggles to re-build her relationship with her older sister Jean (Tara Westwood), she learns that her young niece Lily (Katherine C. Hughes) has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. With the help of her Aunt Mary (Phyllis Somerville), Terry must  come to terms with the truth behind her mother's suicide and her father's alcoholism. Production. Director Laura Thies had previously collaborated with producers Mara Lesemann and Carlo Fiorletta on several short movies, and came on board early in the pre-production process. The movie was shot over 20 days in July and August 2011 on a Red One camera. Shooting locations were in New Jersey (Teaneck and Jersey City), New York City, and Bushkill, PA. Barry Salmon wrote the score. The soundtrack includes Bach's Prelude to Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007, performed by  Canadian cellist Stéphane Tétreault. Thies found the young violinist on YouTube. Release. "Surviving Family" premiered at the 22nd annual Woods Hole Film Festival on Cape Cod, MA on August 5, 2012. It was the Runner Up for the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Festival. It went on to screen at 18 other festivals in the US and Canada, winning 20 awards. Home media. "Surviving Family" was released on iTunes on August 15, 2014. Amazon Prime was added in December of that year, Vimeo on Demand was added in March 2019, and TubiTV was added in March 2020 . Hoopla (digital media service), a free streaming service through public libraries in the US and Canada, was added in November 2020.