Director: Atom Egoyan
Starring: Patrick Tierney, Berj Fazalian, Sirvart Fazlian, Arisnee Khanjian, Margaret Loveys, Thomas Tierney,
Running Time: 67 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Atom Egoyan directed his first feature length film at the age of 23, but a youthful age didn’t prevent him from giving us a mini-masterpiece in NEXT OF KIN that hints towards the immense talent he would demonstrate in THE SWEET HEREAFTER. In fact, his age may have lent something to this exploration of family and love, as we follow 23 year old protagonist Peter (Patrick Tierney).
Peter lives at home with his parents and basically does nothing. His lounging around soon turns to boredom which he counters by using his imagination to pretend stuff. This usually results in him assuming the identity of somebody else, although never for an extended period of time or with malicious intent. His parents soon become worried and seek the advice for a counsellor, but while there, Peter manages to view a tape of another family who discuss the child they gave up when arriving in the US. Peter manages to track the family down and assume the identity of their son.
What sounds like a Hitchcockian thriller, is surprisingly calm. Egoyan is far more concerned with exploring the dramatic aspects of the set-up, such as questioning the idea of unconditional love. In his guise as the family’s long lost son, Peter mentions how blessed he is to have met his family and learned to love them without feeling any obligation. It’s a dark idea, but one that disturbs with its resonance of truth. Peter is never a malicious character; he isn’t out for money or status, he just sees this as an interesting way to pass the time. Peter also manages to bring the family closer together without resorting to sentimental nonsense or saccharine scenarios.
The performances and script are so tight the film fills out its short 67 minute runtime without feeling rushed. The film has a natural bittersweet conclusion which will divide audiences and leave plenty of room for debate. Tierney’s performance and character are also open to deep discussion, especially his ambiguous smiles towards the camera in the early parts of the film. We can’t help but fall in love with Peter, as well as become invested in his bizarre social experiment, but the pain he could potentially cause looms over the film with a sense of dread.
NEXT OF KIN is an experimental leap into the world of film for Egoyan, but it never isolates its audience by punching above its weight. The idea itself is fascinating enough, and it is this that propels the entire narrative. It may lack the polish many viewers will demand in an HD age, but its amateur tone only adds to the off-beat tone. A brilliant debut for a filmmaker that deserves far more credit than they receive.
NEXT OF KIN is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 24th June via Artificial Eye.
