The Really Big Family (1966)

The Really Big Family Poster

The Really Big Family is a 1966 American documentary film directed by Alexander Grasshoff about the Dukes family of Seattle, who had 18 children. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Introduction
"The Really Big Family" is a 1966 film percipiently representing the societal standards and characteristics of the period. This family comedy-drama explores the style of love, approval, and development within the family, focusing on a big family living an idyllic life in Copenhagen, Denmark. Helmed by an established director, Annelise Reenberg, this movie utilizes a wellounded cast to tell a heartfelt tale.

Storyline
The movie focuses on the Hansen family's life, which bursts at the seams of their comfit residence. The family of fourteen is led by the plucky Nette Hansen, who deals with the family affairs with efficiency and a jovial sense of humor. This enormous household consists of twelve children, each with their unique qualities and skills, making the household dynamic even more entertaining.

The storyline unwinds when Mr. Hansen, a calm and gathered man, is provided a promotion at his work environment. However, it features a caveat; he requires to transfer to Stockholm. This leads to a family conference where they jointly choose to turn down the promotion for the sake of staying together as the kids feel sorry for the nostalgia their parents would likely face if they needed to leave their household home in Denmark.

Characters and Acting
The performances in "The Really Big Family" contribute substantially to its charm. The character of Nette Hansen perfectly embodies the function of an unstoppable, loving, and periodically overly energetic mom, rendering realism to their big family ambiance. Her other half, portrayed as a serene figure, completely counterbalances her.

The twelve children, with each having separate character arcs, provide a range of circumstances reflective of all the phases of childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood. The authentic and soulful performance of the actors brings life to the characters, painting a touching and relatable image of teenage years and the various battles it occurs.

Cinematography and Aesthetics
"The Really Big Family" is a prime example of 1960s cinematography. Each frame wonderfully captures the essence of the age, reflecting the dominating fashion, norms, and way of life. The busy and frequently disorderly home scenes are shot with a creative funny bone and enough feeling to get in touch with the audiences at a much deeper level.

Themes and Messages
The underlying message of the film is about the value of family, love, and togetherness. While the Hansen family is amusingly big, the portrayal of the depth of their mutual affection is inspiring. Through different comedic and significant sequences, the motion picture underscores the values of sticking as a household and making collective decisions.

Conclusion
In general, "The Really Big Family" is an enjoyable flight through the anecdotal life of a big household, their love, their squabbles, and their unity. With entertaining performances and a pleasing storyline, this film from 1966 keeps audiences hooked and leaves them assessing their values and familial bonds. It's a statement to Danish filmmaking of the 60s, recording the culture, spirit, and the untouched essence of domesticity because era.

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