From Jeff Nelson

The relationship between society and the family structure is a fascinating one, where culture and development play monumental roles in its makeup. Jianjie Lin makes his feature debut with Brief History of a Family, alternating between sociological, psychological, biological, and political lenses to navigate the fracturing of familial ties, uncovering years’ worth of unspoken trauma and drama. 

The Tu family is a seemingly perfect middle-class family on the outside in post one-child policy China. Tu Wei (Muran Lin) is a high school student, his father (Feng Zu) is a biologist, and his mother (Ke-Yu Guo) is a stay-at-home mother. However, the arrival of Wei’s new, introverted friend, Yan Shuo (Xilun Sun), stirs tensions brewing under the surface.

Brief History of a Family introduces Shuo as an outsider on multiple levels. He retreats within himself at school, choosing to bury himself in his books, typically avoiding most social interaction. Shuo simultaneously lives in a toxic household with an alcoholic single father after his mother’s sudden death, only finding a sense of family in the Wei household. However, he progressively grows closer with the Mr. and Mrs. Tu, presenting a strange situation for Wei. 

In several regards, Shuo is the perfect son that Mr. and Mrs. Tu never had in Wei. The newcomer takes education seriously, philosophically engages with Mr. Tu, and takes a genuine interest in Mrs. Tu’s perspective. China’s one-child policy may be over by this point, but it already had its social impact, making Shuo’s inclusion within the Wei family a profound moment of change.

Lin applies a socioeconomic lens through the disparity between Shuo and Wei’s livelihoods, as well as the expectations put on them by their respective parents. Shuo is hanging on by a thread with few prospects for the future, while Wei’s parents are considering sending him to study abroad to pursue greater opportunities, even despite his disinterest in applying himself to his own success. A form of tug-of-war continues to unfold between the two generations of Weis, allowing Shuo to fill a void that the family itself is missing, while simultaneously creating unforeseen destruction.

There’s an undeniable tension that lurks throughout Brief History of a Family. It’s a slow drama that takes its time getting where it needs to be, never truly reaching a big climax. Rather, Lin maintains an uneasy tone, occasionally using his camera to quite literally put his characters under a voyeuristic microscope.

Brief History of a Family is a multi-layered drama enveloped in unyielding tension, simultaneously capturing a sense of tenderness that runs through its veins. Shuo takes an interest in Wei’s parents that their biological son never has, allowing for moments of sincerity to shine through. Lin is an exciting new artistic voice, who brings an intriguing perspective to his craft.

Rating: 3.5/5

Brief History of a Family played at Sundance 2024 on January 19th, 2024. 

Follow Jeff