Inheritors

Inheritors, directed by Justine Ellen Chen and co-written by Morgan Chen, is a powerful examination of how ideals, opinions, and attitudes towards subjects such as mental health and responsibility can be so disparately informed not just by culture, but also by generational divide.

When the youngest sister, Jordan, is hospitalised after a suicide attempt, three generations of a Chinese American immigrant family are forced to confront this traumatic event, and each other, when visiting Jordan’s home. First to enter is Alex (Angie Lin), Jordan’s older sister, followed shortly thereafter by her mother May (Savoy) and grandmother (Lau) and from here we begin to see how each of their distinct coping mechanisms will clash with the others, as well as the profound disconnects that exist between them emotionally.

Inheritors does everything possible to strike just the right mood required to respect the seriousness of its topic and depict that proverbial distance between each of its characters, each element put in place to try and evoke a great sense of melancholy that seeps throughout the film from beginning to end. The chaos that is Jordan’s apartment, for example, the multiple overflowing trash bags, dirty dishes and minimal lighting, is quite the manifestation of her apparent depression, making that desolate feeling land like an anvil from the very first scene, the film’s contained, almost claustrophobic setting also making the viewer extremely sensitive to that.

While the films’ dialogue may be sparse and rather unextraordinary, in some ways that is to the benefit of not just the film and the story it’s telling, but to its cast as well. What is being said is often not as important as what isn’t. More is conveyed simply through awkward body language and long silences than any words might say, and each of the cast fit their respective moulds admirably.

Savoy’s stoicism as the mother, May, embodies the generation who, while unable to dismiss the situation entirely as they might prefer, is keen and quick to play it all down as less serious than it is, ridiculous even, even highlighting that Jordan “always makes a big deal out of nothing”. Lau’s grandmother then epitomises the generation that would rather plead ignorance completely, instead preferring to busy her thoughts with other things. But Lin’s is perhaps the defining performance, because Alex seems to be the only one outwardly struggling, and Lin can convey confusion, fear, anger and distress all in equal measure, portraying perhaps a more Westernised mindset around such matters that we then see wrestle with the more traditional attitudes of her elders, all the while still proffering respect to them her heritage would expect.

Inheritors, while brief and minimal in its approach, is a compelling family drama that manages to find the right mood, showcases some solid performances and succeeds by showing, not telling.