Family Fallout: Films That Hit Home and Tugged at Our Heartstrings

Not all families fit the traditional mould, and that’s exactly what makes them so compelling. In this episode of The Films That Ruined Us, we examine two movies that explore nonconventional family dynamics—from cosmic obsessions to chaotic road trips—and reveal the surprisingly profound ways people can come together under pressure.

Miles begins with Close Encounters of the Third Kind. While the film focuses on Roy Neary’s growing obsession with alien signals, it also offers a moving look at how one person’s all-consuming passion affects their loved ones. Roy’s wife and children struggle to understand his behaviour, creating a rift that puts the family’s unity to the ultimate test. In exploring Roy’s inner turmoil and its fallout at home, this sci-fi classic reminds us that when family members drift into worlds of their own, tensions inevitably rise—but so can empathy and understanding…if everyone is willing to fight for it.

Katy then discusses Little Miss Sunshine, a comedic yet heartfelt road-trip adventure featuring the lovable, if dysfunctional, Hoover family. Each member has a distinct quirk—from a silent, brooding teen to an outspoken grandfather—but they unite around young Olive’s dream of competing in a beauty pageant. The bumps they encounter on the open road only deepen their bond, showing that humour and resilience can bridge even the widest gaps.

Whether you gravitate toward the unknown of the cosmos or the eccentricities of everyday life, these films remind us that each family is a tapestry of complex relationships—held together by love, tested by dreams, and strengthened by the willingness to persevere.