“A family drama, probably released in the 1980s or 1990s, but set in suburban America during the 1940s or 1950s.
Here are the details I recall:
-
It follows a very traditional upper-middle-class family (parents + two children).
-
The mother feels constrained in her role and starts taking painting lessons.
-
Her best friend falls into depression and commits suicide off-screen (we only hear about it).
-
The couple has a memorable restaurant scene during a storm/tornado — everyone else runs for cover, but they stay at their table.
-
Another striking scene: the wife’s car breaks down while stuck halfway out of the garage.
-
The son resembles the father in temperament, and the daughter eventually moves to New York to study theater (but we don’t follow her there).
-
I think the film might have been inspired by the director’s or main actress’s own parents.
-
It was critically acclaimed but not very popular.”
