The Mattachine Family

Last updated
The Mattachine Family
Directed byAndy Vallentine
Written byDanny Vallentine
Produced byScot Boland
Michael Diaz
Siddharth Ganji
Stuart Heinlein
Cameron Hutchison
Andy Vallentine
Starring
CinematographyJulia Swain
Edited byJonathan Melin
Music byLauren Culjak
Production
company
Huckleberry Films
Distributed by Giant Pictures
Peccadillo Pictures
Salzgeber
Optimale
GagaOOLala
Release date
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Mattachine Family is an American comedy-drama film directed by Andy Vallentine and released in 2023. [1] The film stars Nico Tortorella and Juan Pablo Di Pace as Thomas and Oscar, a gay couple who have spent a year as foster parent to a six year old boy whose mother was in jail; however, when she is released and regains custody of her son, Thomas and Oscar are forced to confront their very different visions for what they want out of life when they find themselves in disagreement on whether to pursue true parenthood. [2]

Contents

The cast also includes Emily Hampshire as Leah, Thomas's friend who is also grappling with queer parenthood as she has recently suffered a miscarriage, as well as Heather Matarazzo, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Jake Choi, Garrett Clayton, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Travis DuBridge, Colleen Foy, Jude Friedman, Annie Funke, Khalilah Joi and Jeanine Harrington in supporting roles.

Plot

The photographer, Thomas, captured his life story with photos. He realized he was gay when he saw a cartoon with muscular men. Thomas tells the story of Oscar, a famous child star on a popular sitcom whose acting career ended with a tabloid story that outed him. Eventually, Thomas would marry Oscar.

Thomas and Oscar are very much in love and live in their shared apartment in Los Angeles. When they have to return their first foster child, Arthur, to his birth mother, who has been released from prison after a year, they ask themselves how to proceed with their family planning and realize that they have different ideas about it after this experience. However, they have their chosen family consisting of friends who face their challenges in building a family. While Thomas' lesbian friend Leah and her wife Sonia are still waiting to get pregnant, their friend Annie is raising a child with her gay best friend Todd. [3] [4] [5]

Cast

Production

It was directed by video and commercial film director Andy Vallentine. The film's screenplay was written by Danny Vallentine, the director's husband, and is based partly on their real-life relationship. [6] It went into production in fall 2021. [7] Andy Vallentine has previously made several short films, most recently The Letter Men, which he presented at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2022 and based on a series of love letters from a gay couple during World War II. [8] The Mattachine Family is his feature film debut. [4] Zach Braff was an executive producer of the film. [7]

The film's title is a reference to the Mattachine Society, a gay rights organization founded by Harry Hay, whose goal is to create greater acceptance of homosexuality. The organization also previously lobbied to repeal the criminalization of homosexuality in the states of the United States. [5]

Nico Tortorella and Argentinian Juan Pablo Di Pace play Thomas and Oscar. Carl Clemons-Hopkins was cast as Todd, and the Canadian Emily Hampshire as Thomas' lesbian friend Leah. [5] Cloie Wyatt Taylor plays Leah's wife, Sonia. Heather Matarazzo appears in a cameo as Annie. [5] Jake Choi and Annie Funke can also be seen in other roles. [4] Garrett Clayton and Matthew Postlethwaite, who previously starred as Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher in The Letter Men, can be seen in the roles of Jake and Sam.

Distribution

The film premiered in the New American Cinema competition at the 2023 Seattle International Film Festival. [9] It was subsequently screened at film festivals, including the Frameline Film Festival, [10] Outfest, [11] Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, [12] and the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival. [13]

Reception

Reviews

All of the reviews listed on Rotten Tomatoes are positive. [14]

Film Threat's Andrew Stover writes in his review that Nico Tortorella impresses with his undeniable charm and winning smile as the central character in The Mattachine Family, even in moments where his pain over the loss of Arthur comes to the fore.

Awards

Calgary International Film Festival 2023

FilmOut San Diego 2023

Seattle International Film Festival 2023

OUT at the Movies International Film Festival 2023

Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival 2023

Streaming

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Hopkins</span> Welsh actor (born 1937)

Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins is a Welsh actor. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Laurence Olivier Award. He has also received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2005 and the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement in 2008. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Watson</span> English actress (born 1967)

Emily Margaret Watson is a British actress. She began her career on stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992. In 2002, she starred in productions of Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse, and was nominated for the 2003 Olivier Award for Best Actress for the latter. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her debut film role as Bess McNeil in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996) and for her role as Jacqueline du Pré in Hilary and Jackie (1998), winning the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress for the latter. For her role as Margaret Humphreys in Oranges and Sunshine (2010), she was also nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

<i>Garden State</i> (film) 2004 American film by Zach Braff

Garden State is a 2004 American romantic comedy-drama film, written and directed by Zach Braff, and starring him, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard and Ian Holm. The film centers on Andrew Largeman (Braff), a 26-year-old actor/waiter who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies. Braff based the film on his real life experiences. It was filmed in April and May 2003 and released on July 28, 2004. New Jersey was the main setting and primary shooting location.

<i>Wilde</i> (film) 1997 film by Brian Gilbert

Wilde is a 1997 British biographical romantic drama film directed by Brian Gilbert. The screenplay, written by Julian Mitchell, is based on Richard Ellmann's 1987 biography of Oscar Wilde. It stars Stephen Fry in the title role, with Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle, Gemma Jones, Judy Parfitt, Michael Sheen, Zoë Wanamaker, and Tom Wilkinson in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Hampshire</span> Canadian actress

Emily Hampshire is a Canadian-American actress. Her best known roles include Angelina in the 1998 romantic comedy Boy Meets Girl, Vivienne in the 2006 film Snow Cake, Jennifer Goines in the Syfy drama series 12 Monkeys (2015–2018), and Stevie Budd in the CBC comedy series Schitt's Creek (2015–2020), as well as the voice role of Misery in the YTV animated series Ruby Gloom (2006–2008). Hampshire has held leading roles in the series Chapelwaite (2021) and The Rig (2023–present).

Kirsten Sheridan is an Irish film director and screenwriter. She is best known for co-writing the semi-autobiographical film In America with her father, director Jim Sheridan, and her sister, Naomi Sheridan, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a Golden Globe Award for and Best Screenplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Saloon</span> Irish animation studio

Cartoon Saloon is an Irish animation film, short film and television studio based in Kilkenny which provides film TV and short film services. The studio is best known for its animated feature films The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner and Wolfwalkers. Their works have received five Academy Award nominations, their first four feature length works all received nominations for Best Animated Feature and one for Best Animated Short Film. The company also developed the cartoon series Skunk Fu!, Puffin Rock, Dorg Van Dango and Viking Skool. As of 2020, the studio employs 300 animators.

<i>Trespass</i> (2011 film) 2011 film

Trespass is a 2011 American crime thriller film directed by Joel Schumacher, from a screenplay by Karl Gajdusek. It stars Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman as a married couple taken hostage by extortionists. It also stars Ben Mendelsohn, Cam Gigandet, Liana Liberato, Jordana Spiro, Dash Mihok, Emily Meade and Nico Tortorella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Larraín</span> Chilean filmmaker (born 1976)

Pablo Larraín Matte is a Chilean filmmaker. He is known for directing films such as No (2012), Neruda (2016), Jackie (2016), Spencer (2021), El Conde (2023), and Maria (2024). Larraín and his brother Juan de Dios co-produced Sebastián Lelio's A Fantastic Woman (2017), which was the first Chilean film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2021, Larrain directed the Apple TV+ psychological romance horror miniseries Lisey's Story.

<i>A Cat in Paris</i> 2010 film by Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol

A Cat in Paris is a 2010 animated adventure crime comedy film by the French 2D animation studio Folimage, directed by Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol. An international co-production of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the film follows a young Parisian girl whose cat leads her to unravel a thrilling mystery over the course of a single evening.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Berger</span> Spanish film director

Pablo Berger Uranga is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He is known for directing and writing the silent drama film Blancanieves (2012), the black comedy films Torremolinos 73 (2003) and Abracadabra (2017), and the animated tragicomedy film Robot Dreams (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Britell</span> American film composer (born 1980)

Nicholas Britell is an American film and television composer. He has received numerous accolades including an Emmy Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and a Grammy Award. He has received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score for Barry Jenkins' Moonlight (2016) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), and Adam McKay's Don't Look Up (2021). He also scored McKay's The Big Short (2015) and Vice (2018). He is also known for scoring Battle of the Sexes (2017), Cruella (2021), and She Said (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embankment Films</span> British film and television company

Embankment Films is a British film and television sales and production company based in London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence Pugh</span> English actress (born 1996)

Florence Pugh is an English actress. She made her acting debut in 2014 in the drama film The Falling. Pugh gained recognition in 2016 for her leading role as a young bride in the independent drama Lady Macbeth, winning a British Independent Film Award, and drew praise for starring in the miniseries The Little Drummer Girl (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaten Matarazzo</span> American actor (born 2002)

Gaetano John Matarazzo III is an American actor. He began his career on the Broadway stage as Benjamin in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (2011–12) and as Gavroche in Les Misérables (2014–15). Matarazzo gained recognition for playing Dustin Henderson in the Netflix science-fiction-horror drama series Stranger Things (2016–present). He also hosted the Netflix show Prank Encounters (2019–2021). In 2022, he co-starred in the coming-of-age comedy film Honor Society and voiced Boris the Dragon on the animated fantasy comedy film My Father's Dragon.

<i>The Happy Prince</i> (2018 film) 2018 film

The Happy Prince is a 2018 biographical drama film about Oscar Wilde, written and directed by Rupert Everett in his directorial debut. The film stars Everett, Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson, Edwin Thomas and Tom Wilkinson. It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and was shown at the 2018 BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival. At the 9th Magritte Awards, it received a nomination in the category of Best Foreign Film.

<i>Nomadland</i> 2020 American drama film by Chloé Zhao

Nomadland is a 2020 American drama film written, produced, edited and directed by Chloé Zhao. Based on the 2017 nonfiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder, it stars Frances McDormand as a widow who leaves her life in Nevada to travel around the United States in her van as a nomad. A number of real-life nomads appear as fictionalized versions of themselves, including Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells. David Strathairn also stars in a supporting role.

<i>The Father</i> (2020 film) Film directed by Florian Zeller

The Father is a 2020 psychological drama film, directed by Florian Zeller in his directorial debut. He co-wrote the screenplay with fellow playwright Christopher Hampton on the basis of Zeller's 2012 play Le Père. A French–British co-production, the film stars Anthony Hopkins as an octogenarian Welsh man living with dementia. Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell, and Olivia Williams also star.

<i>Hacks</i> (TV series) American comedy-drama

Hacks is an American comedy-drama television series created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky that premiered on May 13, 2021, on HBO Max. Starring Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, and Carl Clemons-Hopkins, the series centers on the professional relationship between a young comedy writer and a legendary stand-up comedian. In June 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on May 12, 2022. In June 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on May 2, 2024. In May 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth season.

Hannah Einbinder is an American comedian, actress, and writer known for starring in the Max series Hacks, for which she received nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

References

  1. ↑ Andrew Stover, "The Mattachine Family" Archived 2023-09-25 at the Wayback Machine . Film Threat , October 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ Ariel Messman-Rucker, "Hunky Nico Tortorella Stars in Queer Dramedy 'The Mattachine Family'" Archived 2023-11-23 at the Wayback Machine . Pride, May 12, 2023.
  3. 1 2 The Mattachine Family. In: siff.net. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Matt Grobar: 'The Mattachine Family': Nico Tortorella, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Carl Clemons-Hopkins & Emily Hampshire To Star In Drama Exec Produced By Zach Braff. In: deadline.com, 3 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Parth Pant: The Mattachine Family (2023) Review: A Sloppy But Sincere Look At The Queer Meaning of Family and Parenthood. In: highonfilms.com, 13 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Max Milne, "Telling the untold: Midland native Andy Vallentine shares personal challenges on silver screen". Midland Daily News , July 24, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Matt Grobar, "'The Mattachine Family': Nico Tortorella, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Carl Clemons-Hopkins & Emily Hampshire To Star In Drama Exec Produced By Zach Braff" Archived 2024-04-15 at the Wayback Machine . Deadline Hollywood , November 3, 2021.
  8. ↑ Markos Papadatos: Andy Vallentine talks about writing and directing 'The Letter Men' short film. In: digitaljournal.com, 26 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Quimberly Anne, "'Younger's Nico Tortorella Grapples with Fatherhood in Queer Dramedy" Archived 2023-11-23 at the Wayback Machine . Instinct , May 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ Valerie Complex, "Frameline Announces Full Program For The 47th Annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival" Archived 2023-11-23 at the Wayback Machine . Deadline Hollywood , May 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ Dan Allen, "10 films you must not miss during Outfest 2023's second half" Archived 2023-11-23 at the Wayback Machine . Los Angeles Blade , July 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ "'The Mattachine Family' to open Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Fest Sept. 21" Archived 2023-11-23 at the Wayback Machine . Windy City Times , August 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ Navid Nikkhah Azad, "Lineup for 2023 Calgary International Film Festival revealed" Archived 2023-10-02 at the Wayback Machine . ZIZ News, August 31, 2023.
  14. ↑ The Mattachine Family. In: Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Navid Nikkhah Azad: Lineup for 2023 Calgary International Film Festival revealed. In: ziz.news, 31 August 2023.
  16. ↑ The Mattachine Family. In: filmoutsandiego.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.