Read Kelsi's review of What They Had.
After her ailing mother wanders off during a blizzard, Bridget returns to her childhood home in Chicago, accompanied by her rebellious college-age daughter. Forced to referee between her father’s stubborn insistence that his wife remain at home and her equally determined brother’s efforts to place her in a sought-after “memory care” facility, Bridget struggles to make sense of a lifetime of family conflict. With her mother’s decline becoming increasingly obvious, long-simmering resentments make an already difficult decision close to impossible. Starring Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Blythe Danner, Robert Forster, Taissa Farmiga and Josh Lucas, What They Had is an intimate and tender story of a challenge faced by many families.
What They Had is in select theaters on November 2nd, 2018.
What They Had is sure to leave you heartbroken. In this Elizabeth Chomko original we
watch as all the family stressors we hope we never have, unfold in this film.
Struggling with her own problems, Bridget (Hilary Swank) is called back home to help
settle the debate between her father and brother regarding the placement of their ailing mother.
Bridget’s mother Ruth (Blythe Danner) is suffering from stage 6 Alzheimer’s disease. Having
difficulty keeping a close eye on Ruth, Bridget’s father Burt (Robert Forster) can’t bear the
thought of losing what they once had together. In the midst of the entire bustle, Bridget finds
herself falling apart. With a ruthless teenaged daughter and a marriage she is unsure of, Bridget
begins acting out in ways she normal wouldn’t.
While there is great rage over whether Ruth should be placed in a “memory care” home,
Burt religiously recites his commitment to her. Deeming himself the best possible memory care
Ruth could have. As the family begins to fall apart you’ll see the effect mental illness has on not
only the one diagnosed, but also those around them. It is truly an emotional movie and is sure to
leave you in tears. The actors and actresses played each role fantastically and the chemistry
between them flowed naturally. I will definitely be recommending this film to others.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Kelsi (Contributor) raised in Toledo and has been an avid moviegoer since she was little. In her down time you can always find her outdoors enjoying nature or catching up on the latest Netflix series! She’s a huge fan of thrillers, horrors, and comedies.Click Here to check out Kelsi's Articles.