Your Sister’s Sister

Your Sister’s Sister was a hit at the Tribeca film festival, and it is clear why. The almost uncannily accurate relationship between sisters Iris and Hannah (played by Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt), the conflict and emotions between the sisters and Jack, Iris’s best friend (played by Mark Duplass), and the reflective, atmospheric landscape of the Pacific Northwest where the storyline is played out all contribute to creating a truthful, and at times humorously awkward depiction of sibling and romantic relationships.

After the death of Jack’s brother Tom, Iris (who is Jack’s best friend and Tom’s ex-girlfriend) sends Jack to confront his emotions and figure himself out in her father’s house on a remote island. Not expecting to bump into Iris’s sister Hannah, the two meet. One hilarious and deliciously awkward moment leads to another, and they spend the night together. This becomes the catalyst in the characters confronting their problems and each other when Iris decides to come and stay with them.

At times, it is impossible to remember that this is fictional, and is being watched on a screen. There are many moments where the sisters are talking or Dusplass’s character is interacting with them, and it would feel as if the audience is there, simply another character partaking in the conversation. The conversation between them feels natural, and reveals much about the characters without there being excessive explicit dialogue, much like a real conversation. The natural pauses and body language say as much as the scripted dialogue does in this film, which makes the majority of the film striking in its truthfulness. The heavy improvisation and input by the actors is clear.

The scenery is used to its advantage, beautifully playing out the sincere, insightful and warm story.

The build-up of emotion in Duplass’s character determines an emotional climax, and a seeming resolution between the sisters. DeWitt plays the older, closed in sister perfectly, highlighting the problems and joys in the sister-sister relationship that the audience miss out on seeing with Jack and Tom. 

Humorous throughout, but still managing to be weighty and create depth in the characters and their relationships, writer/director Lynn Shelton has managed to create an earnest and witty narrative of love and family relationships.

Verdict: •••

Samiha Chowdhury

Watch the trailer of Your Sister’s Sister here: