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The Descendants

United States 2011, 117 mins
Director: Alexander Payne
Starring: George Clooney, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer

Synopsis

Middle-aged lawyer Matt King (Clooney) is, in his own words, "the back-up parent".

After a speedboat accident leaves his wife in a coma and with doctors fearing the worst, Matt must try to reconnect with his two young daughters. But taking the patriarchal reins is much harder than he had ever anticipated.

Based on Hawaiian author Kaui Hart Hemmings' punchy debut novel of the same name, THE DESCENDANTS is a deeply poignant and at times riotously funny story of loss and courage that marks a welcome return to the director's chair for Alexander Payne (SIDEWAYS, ABOUT SCHMIDT).