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RELATIVE

Written and directed by Michael Glover Smith

As members of the Frank family come together for a college graduation party in Chicago, they find their bonds being tested – and strengthened – in surprising ways.

Starring Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Clare Cooney, Cameron Scott Roberts, Keith D. Gallagher, Emily Lape, Melissa DuPrey, Heather Chrisler, Elizabeth Stam, H.B. Ward, Cheryl Hamada, Penelope Walker and Gregory J. Fields

THEATERS

Click link for showtimes and tickets. 

Alamo Drafthouse (Chicago): May 22, 2023

 

 

Past engagements. 

Music Box Theatre (Chicago): June 8, 2022

Gene Siskel Film Center (Chicago): Starting June 10, 2022 

Hollywood BLVD (Woodridge, Illinois): Starting June 17, 2022

The Wilmette Theatre (Wilmette, Illinois): Starting June 18

Chicago Filmmakers (Chicago): July 9, 2022

The New 400 (Chicago): July 17, 2022

The New 400 (Chicago): July 24, 2022

Regal UA Midway/Festival of Cinema NYC Closing Night Film (Queens, New York): August 13

Studio Movie Grill (College Park, Indiana): August 20

Tivoli Theatre/After Hours Film Society (Downers Grove, Illinois): August 22, 2022

Avalon Atmospheric Theater (Milwaukee, Wisconsin): Starts August 26

Hollywood Palms (Naperville, Illinois): Starts September 2

Tallahassee Film Festival (Tallahassee, Florida): September 3

Full Bloom Film Festival (Statesville, North Carolina): September 9 & 10

Studio Movie Grill (Wheaton, Illinois): September 17

Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival (Bay City, Michigan): September 24-25

The New 400 (Chicago): October 2, 2022

Buffalo International Film Festival: October 6-20

American Cinematheque/Los Feliz Theatre (Los Angeles): October 14. October 15 encore screening just added.

Lake County Film Festival (Grayslake, Illinois): November 12 and 13

Clinton Street Theater (Portland, Oregon): November 29

The Parkway Theater (Minneapolis, MN): January 20, 2023

Tallgrass Film Center (Wichita, KS): January 20-22, 2023

Facets (Chicago, IL): January 27, 2023

The Grand Illusion (Seattle, WA): January 30, 2023

Jean Cocteau Cinema (Santa Fe, NM): February 4, 2023

The Showroom Cinema (Asbury Park, NJ): February 4, 2023

The Lyric (Fort Collins, CO): February 10, 2023

The New 400 (Chicago, IL): February 19, 2023

Beloit International Film Festival (Beloit, WI): March 3-4, 2023

Gorton Center (Lake Forest, IL): March 18, 2023

Carlton Cinema (Toronto, Canada): March 18-19, 2023

Spectacle Theater (Brooklyn, NY): April 2, 2023

Malco Theatres (Memphis, TN): April 20, 2023

The New 400 (Chicago, IL): April 23, 2023

The Guild Cinema (Albuquerque, NM): April 27, 2023 (Link coming soon)

 

PRESS & AWARDS

“Featuring a brilliant and eclectic cast of talented veterans and relative newcomers, this is a wickedly funny, occasionally poignant and authentic-to-its-core drama/comedy about three eventful days in the life of a totally relatable extended family." (***1/2 stars out of four)
—Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

"His intimate, actor-driven dramas are set not merely in the real world, but in specific locales, with dialogue testifying to the fact that both the characters and the place have histories that still weigh on them in the present. The movies are ragged and imperfect, alternate awkward and sublime, but when they hit, they strike deep and tear you up." (*** stars out of four)
—Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com

"Crucial Viewing: Smith gracefully interweaves the lives of all four siblings, their liberal Baby Boomer parents, and a handful of other characters as they come together amiably and unhurriedly, employing the time-honored scenario of the big family gathering to consider how many of us live at the dawn of the 2020s." (*** stars out of four)
—Ben Sachs, Cine-File

"One of the first great films I've seen in 2022...an impeccably cast, superbly directed and utterly captivating ode to the spontaneity and resilience of human connection"
Matt Fagerholm, Indie Outlook

**** 1/2 stars out of five
Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

"The screenwriting is excellent with many lines you have to quote." (**** stars out of four)
—Nancy Bishop, Third Coast Review

"A heartwarming and spectacularly acted visit with a loving but dysfunctional Chicago family, with some of the best ensemble performances you'll see. This is an indie gem not to be missed." (5 stars out of 5)
—Christopher Lloyd, The Film Yap

"One of 2022's most rewarding indie cinema efforts." (3.5 stars out of 4)
—Richard Propes, The Independent Critic


Grand Jury Award - Best Performance - Cameron Scott Roberts
Gasparilla Film Festival

Best Actor - Francis Guinan
—Midwest Film Festival

Jury Award - Best Ensemble
—Festival of Cinema NYC

Best Narrative Feature
—Full Bloom Film Festival

 

 Chicago Sun-Times (Review, 3 1/2 out of 4 stars): ‘Relative’: Three eventful days shake up a Chicago family in well-written, witty drama
RogerEbert.com (Review, 3 out of 4 stars): Relative
Chicago Tribune: ‘Relative,’ produced by Skokie man, coming to Gene Siskel Center
Cine-File Chicago (Review): Crucial Viewing: Michael Glover Smith's RELATIVE
Indie Outlook (Review): Why Michael Glover Smith's Relative is One of the Year's Best Films
Third Coast Review (Review, 4 out of 4 stars: Review: Relative, a Genuinely Chicago Film, Tells the Story of a Rogers Park Family Going Through Change
HollywoodChicago.com (Review):  Realizing Family as Truth! Audio Film Review of ‘Relative’
Kicking the Seat (Review): Relative Is Everything
Solzy at the Movies (Review, grade 4 out of 5): Relative Brings Dysfunction Home for Graduation
Wilmette Theatre (Review): Film Reviews by Glenn Turner

 

Cinema Femme Magazine: RELATIVE Q&A with Wendy Robie (TWIN PEAKS), Clare Cooney, Emily Lape, Melissa DuPrey and More!
SCREEN Magazine: Grand Jury Award for Chicago Indie RELATIVE and WALKING DEAD star Roberts
Chicago Reader: At the Siskel Center, Rogers Park is Tuesday's Star
The Film Stage: A Family is at a Crossroads in Exclusive Trailer for Michael Glover Smith's RELATIVE
Cinemajaw Podcast: Episode 558: Michael Glover Smith and Emily Lape
Hollywood Chicago Podcast: Michael Glover Smith Proves Everything is Relative
WDCB's The Arts Section: Episode 503: Michael Glover Smith and Elizabeth Stam
Classic Chicago Magazine: It's All Relative: Filmmaker Michael Glover Smith’s Winning New Movie Examines Chicago Family at Crossroads
Split-Tooth Media: Michael Glover Smith on Casting and Creating a Film Family for RELATIVE

 

 

 

CONTACT

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Brian Hieggelke (Press, Booking and Sales Contact)
brian@newcity.com