Family Law (Derecho de Familia)

Rating NR Formats DVD Genre drama Starring Danile Hendler, Julieta Diaz, Arturo Goetz, Damian Dreizik Directed by Daniel Burman Publisher IFC External Links Official Family Law Website

In today's culture, one seldom hears the word "lawyer" in a positive context. Often they are looked upon in a humorous context, with emphasis on their lack of honesty and enjoyment to their jobs. Daniel Burman's 2006 film Derecho de Familia (Family Law) shows a very different side to this commonplace view. Burman's film centers around Ariel Perelman, a young lawyer who is more focused on managing his own career than following in the footsteps of his famous lawyer father, Bernardo Perelman. Perelman Jr. learns through a series of event that although he and his father may not be close, he has certainly raised him well, and he hopes to do the same to his young son, Gastón.

The film opens with a detailed description of Perelman Sr.'s daily routine and life. A description of his morning rituals, office decorations, and appointments are laid out by Perelman Jr., who acts as the narrator of the film as well. Perelman Sr., who is a widower, is called a "Zelig among lawyers" for his ability to see clients in every aspect of their life and to reach out to all of them equally. He spends his mornings in court and afternoon in the office with his secretary Norita. Perelman Jr. was offered the office adjacent to Perelman Sr.'s, but he declined, saying there wasn't enough room in the building for two Perelmans. Perelman Jr. decides not to follow his father in the same exact field, deciding instead to teach at a local college on law instead of practicing in the courtroom. In his teachings, he meets a woman named Sandra, who is a Pilates instructor. Through a court case (that Perelman Sr. actually helped him win), they fall in love and are married, calling themselves "The Ideal Argentinean Family". They have a son, Gastón, who is 2 ½ years old for a good portion of the film. As the days go on, Perelman Jr. notices a strange change of character in Perelman Sr. He tends to be more affectionate towards him, and especially towards Gastón, whereas he has been distant and caught up in his work in the past. Perelman Jr. even notices Perelman Sr. having an affectionate lunch with Norita. Sandra goes away on a trip, leaving Perelman Jr. to adjust his hectic schedule around Gastón. While Sandra is gone, Perelman Sr. passes away, which Perelman Jr. claims to have not seen despite the fact that the signs were obvious. Perelman Jr. spends a good deal of time thinking how he has been as a father to his son, and concludes that he was not necessarily the best son in the world while his father was alive, from forgetting his dad's birthday to not following in his field. Perelman Jr. takes over his father's business and things seem to even out for the hectic family's schedule.

From a technical standpoint, the film was very well made. The acting was top notch, especially by child actor Eloy Burman, who was consistently adorable. Excellent shots made the film interesting, from cramped city and home environments to wide open classrooms and playgrounds. A great feature was the soundtrack, which was almost non-existent thanks to a near constant narrator voice-over, but powerful when used. The moments of silence shone brightest in the film, and a slight ambient soundtrack gave a bit of noise when necessary, adding great depth to a funeral service and an open field scene of loneliness.

The flaws of this film are few and far between. The major snag of the film is the fact that it is entirely in Spanish and subtitles must be read throughout. Also, roughly 60 percent of the film is a narrator voice-over, which means there is a lot of reading to be done. Also, the story is not necessarily anything groundbreaking per se, but it is done well and remains interesting throughout. Derecho de Familia (Family Law) is a heartwarming tale done right. If one does not mind reading subtitles, or one speaks Spanish, one should see this film for an uplifting experience.