Next of Kin (1984)

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Writer:

Atom Egoyan (writer)

Release Date:

30 November 1984 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Twenty-three-year old Peter Foster is an only child who lives at home, where he constantly hears his parents arguing...

Plot Keywords:

Videotape | Armenian | Surprise Party | Bathtub | Gift Shop

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Patrick Tierney	...	Peter Foster / Bedros Deryan
Berge Fazlian	...	George Deryan
Sirvart Fazlian	...	Sonya Deryan
Arsinée Khanjian	...	Azah Deryan
Margaret Loveys	...	Mrs. Foster
Thomas Tierney	...	Mr. Foster
Phil Rash	...	Foster Counsellor
Paul Babiak	...	Deryan Counsellor
Constantino Magnatta	...	Video Operator (as Tino Magnatta)
Andrew Coyne	...	Counsellor in Elevator
Peg Christopherson	...	Counsellor in Elevator
Linzee Collins	...	Receptionist
Robert Kosoy	...	Boy in Store
Charmaine Lord	...	Stripper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hagop Apkarian
Puzant Apkarian
Kaloust Babian
Arsho Basmajian
Isa Basmajian
Silva Basmajian
Lindsay Collins	...	Receptionist
Camelia Frieberg
Irwin Haller
Nadya Hamparian
Simon Hasserjian
Kevork Kharshafdjian
Sylvia Kharshafdjian
Assadour Kirijian
Arsinée Melikian
Arthur Melikian
Garbis Melikian
Vivian Palin
Sirvart Papazian
Hurrie Tikiryan-Dwyer
Hripsime Trpandjian
Judy White
Pierre Yeremian

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Ego Film Arts

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Atom Egoyan]passenger taking his suitcase at the airport.

Movie Connections:

References The Graduate (1967)

Excellent!

Atom Egoyan proves early on his talent as a story-teller in this 1984 Drama/Comedy about a man searching for an identity. The premise is a lot like that of The Graduate, a young man not sure where is future lies, although the way they go about it is completely opposite, the beginning definitely reminds me of "The Graduate"

Peter Foster is a 23 year old man still living with his controlling parents. With no ambition in his life, the Foster family visits a therapist, hoping that they can be helped. While viewing the video-recording of his therapy session, he puts in another tape of an Armenian family seeking therapy. It is revealed that this Armenian family had given up a son for adoption early on. Peter comes up with a plan where he will "pretend" (a theme which comes up often in the film) to be Bedros, the long lost son of this elderly couple. The story is told well, in the trademark Egoyan style. The film mixes comedy with drama, containing beautiful artistic elements that we can definitely associate with Atom Egoyan. The simple fact where there are no subtitles is interesting in itself, because Peter doesn't know what is being said, why should the audience? (Although this is only a few seconds here and there, it doesn't take away at all from the film) If you are a fan of Atom Egoyan I highly recommend seeing this film, enjoy!