Venice crowd cheers Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother with 6-minute standing ovation

Jim Jarmusch's latest film, Father Mother Sister Brother, debuted at the Venice Film Festival with a warm reception. The audience cheered and applauded during its six-and-a-half-minute standing ovation.

The revered indie filmmaker returned to Venice with this anthology dramedy, which screened in the Main Competition section and is vying for the festival's prestigious Golden Lion award. It marks his return to a feature directorial role after the 2019 comedy-horror film The Dead Don’t Die, which competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Jarmusch wrote and directed this film. During its Venice screening, he was joined by Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Charlotte Rampling, Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat, and Mayim Bialik. Apart from the warm reception by the Venice crowd, Jarmusch's film has also received a unanimously positive response from critics upon its screening at the festival.

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What is Jim Jarmusch's Father Mother Sister Brother about?

Jim Jarmusch is known for his indie charmers that find beauty in the mundane. His latest film is similar and is described as “quiet and observational.” As per the Venice Film Festival, the film's plot synopsis reads:

"Father Mother Sister Brother is a feature film, though carefully constructed in the form of a triptych. The three stories all concern the relationships between adult children, their somewhat distant parent (or parents), and each other. Each of the three chapters takes place in the present, and each in a different country."

It further says:

"Father is set in the north-east US, Mother in Dublin, Ireland, and Sister Brother in Paris, France. The film is a series of character studies: quiet, observational and non-judgemental — a comedy, but interwoven with threads of melancholy."

Jarmusch's films often feature a big ensemble with recurring cast members. Father Mother Sister Brother also includes his previous collaborators like Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver, and Tom Waits. Other than them, the cast also includes Charlotte Rampling, Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat, Françoise Lebrun, Sarah Greene, and Mayim Bialik.

The director is also known for his deep interest in the musical landscape. Over the years, he has worked closely with musical stars who have either starred in his films or collaborated on their music. Jarmusch's films often include memorable soundtracks.

However, in April 2023, during a conversation at the Outlook Film Festival, he revealed that his new film wouldn't have any music. Here's what he said, as per The Playlist:

“The film we’re preparing now for late this year to shoot, probably, I think, may have no music. It’s a very subtle film; it’s very quiet. And I think music could move it too much one way — it’s a funny and sad film, right? It sort of has both woven in. I don’t know if I wanna have music to add some other thing over it. It doesn’t really want it so far.”

Although he didn't reveal any details about the project, he might have been referring to Father Mother Sister Brother.

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What are critics saying about Father Mother Sister Brother?

Jim Jarmusch's latest film debuted with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score upon its Venice premiere, based on the 11 reviews it has received so far. Praising the film, Bilge Ebiri wrote for Vulture:

"It’s the kind of dry, deadpan humor Jarmusch specializes in, and he’s working with great actors who know how to fill empty spaces with subtle emotional activity."

Jessica Kiang from Variety added:

"An unusually delightful hangout movie. The kind you might go and see in the cool of the evening when everything is getting kind of groovy."

Ryan Lattahnzio's quote for Indiewire read:

"In appearing to give you nothing, Jim Jarmusch‘s almost perversely downplayed trio of short stories 'Father Mother Sister Brother' winds up giving you almost everything if you can tap into its cool vibrations."

Mubi plans to release Father Mother Sister Brother in US theaters on December 24, 2025.