siblings in film

i recently went to see ready or not 2: here i come in the cinema with my younger sister. i went in with almost no expectations, barely remembering the first film beyond a vague outline, but i was pleasantly surprised. not only did i have a genuinely great time (with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments), but i found myself really drawn to its central focus on sibling relationships.

there are plenty of films that include siblings, but for some reason, it felt refreshing to see those dynamics actively drive the story.

ready or not 2 picks up right where the first film ends. grace has survived the attack from the le domas family and soon discovers there’s another level to the game. her estranged sister, faith, appears at her hospital bedside, now pulling her into the chaos.

although the film leans into comedy-horror and high-stakes action, what stood out most to me was the relationship between grace and faith. they’re forced to confront years of resentment after grace left their foster home at 18 to build a better life in new york. despite the anger and hurt between them, they repeatedly put their lives on the line for each other.

that push and pull - between love and unresolved pain - felt especially impactful, particularly in the older/younger sister dynamic.

alongside them, the antagonists - the danforth twins - mirror this dynamic in a darker way. initially aligned under their father’s strict control, cracks begin to form as ursula starts to question titus’ escalating brutality. i really appreciated how the film uses both pairs to reflect different sides of sibling loyalty and fracture, and that the two central relationships of the movie were focused on siblings - however they may appear.

sentimental value offers a much more raw and intimate portrayal of sibling relationships. it explores generational trauma through the strained bond between nora and agnes, who are both dealing with an estranged, narcissistic father.

the film highlights how trauma manifests differently in siblings, especially between older and younger ones. nora takes on the role of protector, bearing the brunt of their upbringing, and as the story unfolds, you see the resentment she carries over how their lives diverged.

despite their distance, there’s an undeniable connection between them. one of my favourite scenes is when they sit together on the bed, reflecting on how they ended up so different. when nora questions whether she could ever start a family - fearing she might repeat the cycle - and asks agnes how she managed to, it’s completely heartbreaking. it’s such a raw and beautiful depiction of sisterhood, especially as an older sister myself.

this is such a comfort film, and i always find myself returning to studio ghibli when i don’t know what to watch. watching my neighbour totoro again on the big screen recently - when my local cinema hosted a youth film festival - reminded me just how important the relationship between satsuki and mei is.

with their mother in hospital and their lives suddenly uprooted, satsuki takes on a nurturing, almost parental role as the older sister. mei depends on her completely.

one of my favourite moments is when mei follows satsuki to school, interrupting her class and refusing to stop crying until she can stay. the second she’s beside her sister, she calms instantly. it’s such a pure depiction of sisterhood - the responsibility placed on older siblings, but also the deep comfort and safety that bond creates.

while big hero 6 doesn’t centre a sibling relationship throughout its full runtime, it remains the emotional core of the film.

hiro and tadashi are incredibly close, more like best friends than just brothers. after tadashi’s death, hiro is left grieving, but his brother’s presence continues through baymax, the healthcare robot tadashi created.

hiro’s journey - building a team and stepping into something bigger - is driven and guided by that loss. tadashi’s kindness, protectiveness, and influence carry on, shaping hiro even in his absence. tadashi’s friends take hiro under their wings, giving him the support and sense of family that was lost with his brother’s death. it’s a really moving portrayal of how sibling relationships can endure beyond grief.

black widow is natasha romanoff’s only standalone.

as someone who has been a marvel fan since i was a preteen, i had been waiting on a black widow standalone for ages.

tonally, it was so different from other avengers standalones and it explored her dark past in the red room programme. we see yelena belova - my favourite of the new additions to the mcu - for the very first time and we discover they are adoptive sisters. through this movie, their complicated relationship is explored. they have a profound loyalty and love between them, but also a lot of anger and trauma. yelena seeks a deeper relationship, with natasha initially being slightly colder and less receptive.

i love their relationship and i think it completely makes the movie. seeing them as children and then exploring their reconnection is such an important part of both of their stories. it is both a wonderful addition to natasha’s - a character so beloved and established in the mcu - story, while also giving us such a great introduction to yelena, who becomes beloved in the mcu. i also appreciate how we go on to see, in later projects, the grief yelena grapples with while she deals with losing natasha. especially while most don’t know of her relationship to natasha.

once again, this film centres on an older sister trying to protect her younger sibling. it follows asia reaves as she attempts to reunite with her sister maria after a difficult childhood and years of separation.

after a failed escape from their abusive home leads to asia’s arrest, she later tracks maria down to a luxury high-rise in new york, where she works as a housekeeper. maria is initially distant and resentful, unwilling to reconnect, but asia refuses to give up on her.

despite the film’s violent, action-heavy style and twists, its emotional core lies in their relationship. over time, you see their bond rebuild, and the lengths they’re willing to go to in order to protect each other become clear. it’s another powerful portrayal of loyalty and second chances within sisterhood.

just a reminder that i’ve launched a film club! to sign up/register your interest, have a say, and keep up with updates - head to https://taraelassaad.wixsite.com/stara-film-club and remember to subscribe to my account!

currently, we’re voting between: cinema paradiso, the substance, and the darjeeling limited as the first movie pick, so head to the website to place your vote.

stara film club: all you need to know

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Apr 13

before i get into everything, i want to say a massive thank you. i started my substack over a month ago and i’m so grateful i did. i am so excited to actually get to launch stara film club and begin growing this community with all of you! please subscribe for updates - i also post reviews, recommendations, essays, and so much more on all things film!

my recent post tells you everything you need to know!