PEACE LOVE AND MISUNDERSTANDING

Cinemavixion Review

Bruce Beresford directs this 2012 dramedy that explores themes of family and reconciliation. The film stars Jane Fonda as a conservative caterer who, after her husband leaves her, decides to visit her liberal, flower-child daughter, played by Catherine Keener. The daughter, who lives in the countryside with her new boyfriend (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), is preparing for her own wedding, and the visit brings together an unlikely group including Fonda's character's activist granddaughter (Elizabeth Olsen) and her boyfriend (Chase Ellison). As old wounds are reopened and differing life philosophies clash, the family must navigate their misunderstandings to find common ground, ultimately leading to a heartwarming, if sometimes predictable, conclusion. The ensemble cast delivers solid performances, with Fonda offering a particularly nuanced portrayal of a woman confronting her past and her evolving family dynamics.