A Christmas Tale

As the wildly dysfunctional Vuillard family gathers for the holidays, they’re rocked by the news that matriarch Junon (an imperious Catherine Deneuve) is ill and in need of a bone marrow transplant. When it turns out that the only blood matches are her black-sheep son (Mathieu Amalric) and troubled grandson (Emile Berling), an emotional tug-of-war over who will be the donor plays out against the hilarious, heartbreaking, chaotic backdrop of a family reunion. Filled to the brim with playful stylistic touches—iris shots, shadow puppets, an extended homage to Vertigo—and acted to perfection by the top-notch ensemble cast, this bittersweet holiday fable is uncommonly wise, affecting, and attuned to the mysterious inner workings of a family. An NYFF46 selection.