Family Viewing (1987)

Family Viewing is one of the first films from the Armenian-Canadian director Atom Egoyan to make an impact, though that impact was primarily confined to film critics. Egoyan's work is not conventionally entertaining, though this story of a dysfunctional family whose life revolves around television has its moments of hilarity. Mostly, however, it is a wry and acerbic commentary on the media age, shot in Egoyan's developing style of deadpan dialogue and voyeuristic, semi-documentary mise en scene. The cast include Egoyan's wife Arsinee Khanjian and others of his regular troupe. Family Viewing's importance grew in retrospect as Egoyan's following increased after Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter, and more critics and fans sought out his early film experiments. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide