For its sixth film of the new fall season, the Vernon Film Society will be screening Captain Fantastic, an offbeat and heartwarming tale about love, duty, and family.
Directed by actor-director Matt Ross and starring Viggo Mortensen (A Dangerous Method, Eastern Promises), the film tells the tale of Ben and his wife, two nonconformists who have chosen to raise their six kids deep in the Pacific Northwest forest. The kids have been taught how to live off the land, and have been instilled with advanced knowledge of philosophy, literature, and geopolitics.
When tragedy strikes and the delicate balance of their paradise is thrown into disarray, Ben and his family are forced to take a trip across the country in their camper van. Both heartbreak and hilarity ensue as the kids face some of their first social interactions with the wider world.
As his kids see more of the world, Ben begins to question whether shutting them off from it was the right decision.
Best known for his heavy-duty dramatic roles, Mortensen reveals a wonderful gift for comedy as the back-to-nature patriarch, especially during his interactions with his children. Boasting a stellar supporting cast that includes veterans Steve Zahn, Kathryn Hahn, and the great Frank Langella, Captain Fantastic is an irresistible comedy-drama that asks what it is that truly makes a family.
“Challenging, complex and engaging, Captain Fantastic (irony abounds) is a bracing addition to the movie menu, observing the human condition with a jaundiced eye,” wrote Andrew L. Urban, with Urban Cinefile.
Captain Fantastic screens Monday, Nov. 28 at the Vernon Towne Cinema at 5:15 and 7:45 p.m. Tickets are available one week ahead at the Towne and the Bean Scene for $7 (cash only).