Latest news with #familyDrama
Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Dying review — perfectly pitched gallows humour from Das Boot director
Calling your three-hour German epic Dying is a punchy statement but at least it weeds out the non-hardcore. To paraphrase Bette Davis on the subject of old age, Dying is not for sissies. Best known for the TV hit Das Boot, the director Matthias Glasner's first feature in 12 years is an absorbing, intricate, multi-perspective portrait of the dysfunctional Lunies family. It starts with a middle-class couple not enjoying their golden years. We meet the 70-year-old Lissy Lunies (Corinna Harfouch) slumped on the floor, covered in faeces and unable to move. Meanwhile her husband, Gerd (Hans-Uwe Bauer), who has dementia, wanders over to the neighbours' house naked, clearly not for the first time. Lissy has terminal cancer and is almost blind from diabetes. They seem not to have friends and their middle-aged children barely pick up the phone, let alone visit. Quite why this is the case becomes clear later on. • Read more film reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews Their son, Tom (Lars Eidinger), a busy Berlin-based conductor, is preoccupied with the premiere of a symphony called Dying, composed by his friend (Robert Gwisdek) who is chronically depressed. He is also determined to be a stepfather to the new baby girl of his ex-partner (Anna Bederke). Meanwhile Tom's alcoholic sister, Ellen (Lilith Stangenberg), a thermonuclear hot mess, has lurched into an affair with a married dentist (Ronald Zehrfeld). Abortion, domestic abuse, suicide and some wince-inducing dentistry also feature, yet for all the depressing subject matter Dying is far from a depressing experience. Partly that's because of some nuanced performances — an extraordinary scene where Lissy tells Tom she never loved him is worthy of its own award — but mainly it's because it never wallows. With the dedication 'For my family. The living and the dead', this isn't misery porn, it's unsentimental realism shot through with perfectly pitched gallows humour. 18, 182min ★★★★☆ Times+ members can enjoy two-for-one cinema tickets at Everyman each Wednesday. Visit to find out more. Which films have you enjoyed at the cinema recently? Let us know in the comments and follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Oprah Winfrey's latest book club pick, 'Culpability,' delves into AI ethics
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey has chosen a novel with a timely theme for her latest book club pick. Bruce Holsinger's 'Culpability' is a family drama that probes the morals and ethics of AI. 'I appreciated the prescience of this story,' Winfrey said in a statement Tuesday, the day of the novel's publication. 'It's where we are right now in our appreciation and dilemmas surrounding Artificial Intelligence, centered around an American family we can relate to. I was riveted until the very last shocking sentence!' Holsinger, a professor of English at the University of Virginia, is the author of four previous novels and several works of nonfiction. He said in a statement that he had admired Winfrey's book club since its founding in 1996. 'Oprah Winfrey started her book club the same year I finished graduate school,' Holsinger said. 'For nearly 30 years, as I've taught great books to college students in the classroom and the lecture hall, she has shared great books with the world. Her phone call was like a thunderbolt, and I'll never forget it. I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful that she found 'Culpability' worthy of her time, praise, and recognition.' Tuesday's announcement continues Winfrey's book club partnership with Starbucks. Her interview with Holsinger, held recently at a Starbucks in Seattle, can be seen on Winfrey's YouTube channel or through other podcast outlets. List of Winfrey's last 10 Oprah's Book Club selections June 2025: 'The River is Waiting,' by Wally Lamb (Read AP's review.) May 2025: 'The Emperor of Gladness,' by Ocean Vuong (Read AP's review.) April 2025: 'Matriarch,' by Tina Knowles (Read and watch AP's interview with Knowles.) March 2025: 'The Tell,' by Amy Griffin February 2025: 'Dream State,' by Eric Puchner January 2025: 'A New Earth,' by Eckhart Tolles (Winfrey has picked this book twice.) December 2024: 'Small Things Like These,' by Claire Keegan (Read AP's review.) October 2024: 'From Here to the Great Unknown,' by Lisa Maria Presley and Riley Keough. (Read AP's story about how Keough completed the book. September 2024: 'Tell Me Everything,' by Elizabeth Strout (Read AP's review.) June 2024: 'Familiaris,' by David Wroblewski.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside the turbulent relationship between Princess Diana's mother and grandmother which saw the pair clash in court
Princess Diana 's grandmother's turbulent relationship with her daughter saw the family members clash in a courtroom. Like many families up and down the country, the Spencers were no stranger to their fair share of family drama. Indeed, it has been well-documented that Diana and her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, had a testy relationship throughout their life with periods of reconciliation followed by long spells where the pair did not speak to one another. But it was Frances' relationship with her own mother - Lady Fermoy - which was the most volatile. Lady Fermoy died in 1993 following a short illness. During her 84 year life, the former friend and confidante to the Queen Mother never got on well with her own daughter. In his bestselling biographer about Princess Diana, Andrew Morton revealed how Lady Fermoy spoke so negatively about Frances that it left a lasting legacy on how the Palace saw Diana's mother. Speaking to Morton, Diana said: 'She [Lady Fermoy] feeds the Royal Family with hideous comments about my mother, about her running away and leaving the children. 'Whenever I mention my mother's name within the Royal Family, which I barely do, they come on me like a ton of bricks'. Lady Fermoy's 'real hatchet job' against Frances meant that her own son-in-law - Prince Charles - wouldn't talk to her, according to Diana. The details of their quarrels are not known but in a very public spat Lady Fermoy spoke out against her own daughter during Frances' bitter divorce from John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer In 1969, Lady Fermoy testified against her own daughter in court which led to Diana's father being granted custody of the future princess and her siblings. Diana told Morton that the details of the family drama were never truly revealed to the Princes of Wales. 'The four of us never knew what happened and we don't actually want to know', she said. Born in 1908, Lady Fermoy rose to become an influential figure at court as a friend and confidante of the last Queen Mother, whose outlook had a profound influence on the future Princess of Wales. It has been suggested that Lady Fermoy was among those conniving to bring about a dynastically beneficial but inappropriate marriage between her granddaughter and the future King - although this is something she denied. Diana's own testy relationship with her mother has also been well documented. Frances with her husband John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer. In 1969, Lady Fermoy testified against her own daughter in court which led to Diana's father being granted custody of the future princess and her siblings A particularly sour point in their relationship started around the time of what should have been one of their happiest memories together - Diana's wedding to Prince Charles in July 1981. Morton revealed how Diana felt 'let down terribly' by Frances on her wedding day. 'She kept crying and being all valiant and saying that she couldn't cope with the pressure, I tended to think I was the one under pressure because I was the bride' Diana told Morton. Diana goes on to claim that her mother drove her 'mad' during her engagement and Frances was left 'hurt' when she was not included in preparations for the big day. She even makes the shocking allegation that the stress of the wedding led her mother to begin taking the anxiety medication valium which she was on 'ever since'. After the wedding, Diana said the pair didn't speak to each other for three to four years. Despite this, Frances was spotted at Mary's Hospital following the birth of Prince William in June 1982 with the new grandmother reportedly relieved that Diana would not have to endure the pressure of producing a male heir. Frances bitter split with Diana's father in 1969 had a profound on the future princess. After the four children were left in the care of their father after a fierce custody battle when Diana was seven, Charles Spencer - Diana's younger brother - recalled that 'Diana used to wait on the doorstep for her, but she never came.' He said : 'While she was packing her stuff to leave, she promised Diana she'd come back to see her. 'Our father was a quiet, constant source of love, but our mother wasn't cut out for maternity... she couldn't do it. She was in love with someone else, infatuated really.' Despite her own troubled mother-daughter relationship, by all accounts Frances had a good relationship with her royal grandchildren. William and Harry reportedly enjoyed their visits to Frances home on the rugged and isolated Seil Island off the coast of Scotland which provided a welcome break from royal life for the young princes. However, Diana's status as one of the most famous women in the world drew a further wedge between the mother and daughter. After divorcing John Spencer, Frances married wallpaper tycoon Peter Shand Kydd. By the late 1980s Frances' second marriage had began to deteriorate and she in part blamed Diana for the break-up. Peter allegedly felt overshadowed by his more famous wife after Diana's skyrocketed the popularity of the Spencers. In its obituary for Frances, The Guardian wrote about why Peter divorced her in 1990. 'I think the pressure of it all was overwhelming and, finally, impossible for Peter. They didn't want him. They wanted me. I became Diana's mum, and not his wife,' Frances is quoted as saying. After Diana separated from Charles in 1992, Frances is reported to have not approved of her later relationships. Diana's former butler - Paul Burrell - claimed that she voiced disapproval of Diana's relationships with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and businessman Gulu Lalvani during a particularly tetchy phone call. Frances tendency to be loose-lipped with members of the press left a damning final legacy in her relationship with Diana. This came after Frances said in an interview months before her daughter's death that it was 'absolutely wonderful' she had been stripped of her HRH title after her divorce from the then Prince Charles, which caused Diana to never speak to her mother again.
Geek Girl Authority
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Agape Mngomezulu Talks Bryon and Bracia's Relationship in GINNY & GEORGIA Season 3
If there's one thing you can expect while watching Ginny & Georgia Season 3, it's a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows. And if explosive family drama is your thing, you're in for a wild ride. For starters, Georgia (Brianne Howey) stands trial for murder, and Ginny (Antonia Gentry) must reckon with her mom's predicament. However, it's not only the titular mother-daughter duo who endures a heaping helping of narrative turbulence. Other characters like Bryon (Agape Mngomezulu) and Bracia (Tameka Griffiths) are navigating uncharted territory — the ups and downs of young love. Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Agape about his role in Ginny & Georgia Season 3, what viewers can expect and Bryon and Bracia's relationship. RELATED: Everything Coming to Netflix in June 2025 This interview is edited for clarity. Agape Mngomezulu Pictured: Agape Mngomezulu Melody McCune: We at GGA love a good origin story. How did you get into acting? Agape Mngomezulu: I started acting in high school. I would do community plays and musicals. When I was in grade 9 or 10, I was like, 'Yes, this is what I want to do.' In grade 12, I got into background work to see if this was a good fit. Then, right after I graduated from high school, I went to film school. Then, 18 months later, I was in the professional world. Ginny & Georgia Season 3 MM: Let's talk about Ginny & Georgia . Can you tell me what Season 3 is about and how your character fits into the story? AM: Season 3 finds a lot of characters going through their deepest, darkest moments. We see Georgia in the aftermath of her getting arrested at her wedding. We see Ginny deal with her mom going to prison and a whole murder trial. Then, her friends are dealing with their own personal issues. The way my character, Bryon, fits into that is that you see a different side of him. Last season, [he was] very cool, calm and collected. This season, you see him start to comfort Maxine (Sara Waisglass), for example, when she's going through it. You also get to see a more emotional, caring side of him as well. RELATED: Ginny & Georgia : The Possibilities of Season 2 Bryon and Bracia Tameka Griffiths as Bracia Charles, Agape Mngomezulu as Bryon in episode 309 of Ginny & Georgia. Cr. Amanda Matlovich/Netflix © 2025 MM: What can you tease about Bryon and Bracia's relationship in Season 3? How does this season test their bond? AM: This season, you see the ups and downs of young love. You see them wrestle with what love is. Because [this is] the first time they've both been in a situation and wrestled with, 'Do we love each other? What's happening here?' Their relationship definitely gets tested, more so like, 'What are we doing here?' MM: What can viewers expect when they watch this season? AM: A lot of drama. It's a very emotional season, really. Out of the three seasons, this one definitely pushes all the characters to their breaking point. We see them deal with things in ways we've never seen before. MM: Describe Season 3 using three words. AM: Emotional. Deep. Surprising. MM: Do you share any similarities with Bryon? AM: We do have a few similarities. In Season 2, Bryon stops playing football to join the musical because he has a crush on Bracia. When I was in high school, I did the opposite. I played rugby to impress a girl in grade 9 instead of doing theater. It worked, but I quickly realized I'm not a rugby guy. RELATED: Next on Netflix: Check Out the Streamer's 2025 TV Slate MM: Without giving too much away, do you have a highlight or a favorite scene from filming this season? AM: It's always such a joy shooting the musical episodes. It takes me back to when I was still in high school doing musicals for my school. Those are always a treat to do because it's like a combination of doing real-life theater. It feels like a real production, while also getting that film and TV aspect of it. On the Horizon Tameka Griffiths as Bracia Charles, Agape Mngomezulu as Bryon in episode 302 of Ginny & Georgia. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025 MM: What else is on the horizon for you, career-wise? AM: I have a movie coming out called Lucky Weekend . It's written, produced and directed by Kevin Alves, who is on Yellowjackets . He also stars in it. That'll come out at some point. It'll be doing a festival run between this year and the upcoming year. That'll be really exciting. It's a fun movie. MM: Have you watched anything interesting lately? AM: I've really been in my reality TV bag. I'm loving this season of Love Island USA . There's something about watching other people go through real-life drama. It's an escape because when I watch movies and TV, I'm analyzing the acting. How things are done in the production. When I'm watching reality TV, I'm like, 'Wow, this is just fun.' MM: You can turn your brain off for a little bit. AM: Exactly. Brain off. We're just enjoying [things] after a long day. RELATED: Cecilia Lee on the Wild Ride That Is Fear Street: Prom Queen MM: Last question. Name your five favorite films. AM: Number one favorite film of all time — Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Mr. Nobody . Meet the Robinsons . Inception . A more recent one, Sinners . I know everyone's talking about it. I didn't want to buy into the hype; I was like, 'I'm going to watch this without any preconceived notions, and I'm going to judge it critically.' Then, I watched it and was like, 'Okay, this is pretty amazing.' All three seasons of Ginny & Georgia are now streaming on Netflix. Be sure to follow Agape on Instagram (@ and keep your eyes peeled for Lucky Weekend when it premieres. Max Parker Gets Musical as Benvolio in JULIET & ROMEO Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Geek Tyrant
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Explains Why 28 YEARS LATER Is 'More Horrific' Than Most Zombie Movies — GeekTyrant
It turns out the most terrifying thing about 28 Years Later isn't the flesh-eating infected, it's the emotions. In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, star Aaron Taylor-Johnson described the upcoming sequel not as a straight-up horror movie, but as something more intimate and disturbing… a family drama set against the backdrop of a collapsed world. Taylor-Johnson said: 'We played the reality of the family drama, didn't we? We just kind of leant into what our family was sort of feeling and going through in this post-apocalyptic world. 'So the story itself feels very intimate within this big landscape. So you don't really play into the sort of horror theme in a way? You're just playing the reality of the circumstances, and I think that, in itself, is more horrific.' Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, both returning from the original 28 Days Later , this third installment trades the genre tropes for something a little more grounded. Of course, there are going be jumpscares. Yes, the Infected are back. But the emotional core revolves around Jamie (Taylor-Johnson), his wife Isla (Jodie Comer), and their son Spike (Williams), as they venture from the relative safety of Holy Island into the decaying chaos of the mainland. What begins as a coming-of-age journey for Spike quickly turns into something far more dangerous. According to Williams, it's that character shift that gives the movie its emotional bite. 'We really see Spike mature throughout this film, and he has to mature to survive. We see him right at the start where, you know, he holds back a lot and he's still got that childlike curiosity. 'Then we start to see… well, he still keeps that but he pushes it back to defend his mother, who's he trying to protect.' Taylor-Johnson and Williams both avoided watching other zombie films while shooting because 28 Years Later doesn't follow the usual playbook. When asked if he looked to the genre for inspiration: Taylor-Johnson said: 'I didn't because I didn't feel like it correlated or related to this.' Williams added: 'It's just so unique and creative. I just watched 28 Days Later a lot to try and get the vibe of this one.' With Jack O'Connell and Ralph Fiennes also on board, and Boyle and Garland fully back in the creative driver's seat, 28 Years Later is shaping up to be more than just a revival, it might be the most emotionally intense chapter yet. 28 Years Later hits theaters June 20th.
