THE ASK | Omeleto
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- Опубликовано: 28 окт 2024
- Three siblings confront their mother.
THE ASK is used with permission from C.D. Carpenter. Learn more at imdb.com/title....
Jenny is a lawyer preparing for an important case when she gets a phone call from her brother James. He tells her that their estranged mother, Lisa, wants to meet with Jenny, James and their sister Jesse. Jenny is against the idea, but James believes their mother could be sick or dying, so Jenny agrees.
When the siblings meet with their mother at her home, though, they get unexpected news. Their mother wants to adopt another child, and she wants her grown children to be her references. Her children, however, oppose the idea, letting forth a lifetime's worth of resentment and anger that is as brutal as it is cathartic.
Directed and written by C.D. Carpenter, this short family drama begins quietly, as a lawyer practices the statement she will give in court for work. She's at home, alone, talking in front of a mirror with a cigarette in her hand. Framed from behind, she is a dark figure surrounded by shadows, isolated in her surroundings. She takes a phone call from her brother, who gives her news about their mother Lisa and her desire to meet up with her children. The atmosphere is foreboding, from the shadowy, static cinematography to the ominous musical score that creeps into the storytelling, setting up an expectation that feels disquieting and edgy.
What unfurls is a masterfully written and performed scene of familial dysfunction, starting with the tense but seemingly polite sit-down dinner of KFC. The siblings hang back warily as their mother attempts to make conversation, trying to be solicitous and charming. Yet the sharp, observant dialogue reveals Lisa's underlying dismissiveness and judgment underneath the chit-chat, as well as her children's quiet but seething efforts to ignore the subtextual jabs. But that's nothing compared to the emotional mayhem unleashed when Lisa reveals why she's gathered her children together: she wants to adopt another child, and she wants Jenny, James and Jesse to be her references when the adoption agency calls.
This horrifies her children, all of whom have been economically but vividly characterized in a short amount of time. While James is a classic peace-making middle child, willing to entertain his mother, a skeptical and hostile Jenny is outraged at the idea, unleashing a litany of hurt and resentment at their childhood. The entire cast is excellent as the siblings and their mother hash out a lifetime's worth of grievances, particularly actor Gina Hecht at Lisa, who gives a raw and blistering performance as a narcissistic mother who can veer from victim to aggressor in the space of a minute. As she pleads her case, guilts her children, denies their trauma and her role in it and then finally begs them to give her what she wants, we can see just what her children have grown up with, showing how ages and arrangements may change in a family, but power dynamics often do not.
Unflinching, darkly funny and thoughtfully crafted, THE ASK goes to uncomfortably intimate lengths to immerse us in one mother's reckoning for years of dismissiveness, denial and emotional callousness -- pain she still inflicts on her children, even when they've grown. Yet it ends with a fragile sense of peace and acceptance, as the siblings realize that only they would ever understand what they have been through. They may not have their mother, and perhaps never will, but at least they have one another as family. For them, that will have to be enough.
Gina Hecht's performance as Mom was fantastic! The way she interrupted her own thoughts so naturally and realistically is impressive. Great performances all around.
I was thinking the same thing. It's very believable the toxic behaviour and the pain and issues the family has all gone through. There's no mention of a dad ... so i assume he walked out on them or she's a single mother.
Hi, everyone! This is the writer and director. Just wanted to say "thank you" for all the lovely comments and thank you to Omeleto for putting out our film! It's wonderful hearing everyone's stories!
Loved it. Could be a full movie! I want to know what happens next.
@@krissmgvlogs Thank you! There's a feature version written. Would love to drum up interest for it!
I'm not sure why you put thank you in quotes..
This was my childhood and adulthood and you captured it so well
You have earned a special place in movie making history!
The personality dynamics between the eldest daughter, & the mother was so intense, the daughter's expression went from seething to scowling, so when she wasn't modulating between the two, there was little or no feelings at all. This small drama encapsulated the resentful feeling between family members, who felt cheated out of their mother's true love.
Yeah, i usually poop all over Omeleto films, but this resonated with me. The whole lot of them, except for maybe Jesse, are toxic, but I sense that they were better off together, than struggling alone. Obviously, if there are better people out there for the kids, then so be it, but it's impossible to know ahead of time.
I'm really angry sad, that the mom couldn't just sort out the info and improve. There is probably a bit of her in all of us.
@@eugenetswonggood one
The writing for this is INCREDIBLE. Torn straight out of a page from my life.
“I dont understand why I love her and hate myself.” That’s one hell of a line, well done.
The dialogue and acting is top notch! Oscar worthy!
wow, this clip would send shivers thru many many people who suffered abusive and toxic supposed parenting, I know, I was there once, many many years ago. Still cuts me up to this very day. This is must viewing. 10/10
Toxicity portrayed so sincerely, I felt I was eavesdropping
Middle child pain portrayed accurately 🥲
A realistic and accurate description of what it’s like growing up in a dysfunctional family with a mother who is just like that. I should know. I’m a victim and I’m a survivor too! Cherish the moments you have with your family members who will not be around forever or possibly losing your bff sister to Lewy Body’s dementia like I just went through in March when my older sister passed away at the young age of only a 61 year old woman who I’ve missed every single day since her death.❤ Greetings from Boston, Massachusetts Amerikkka!!
Brilliant portrayal of narcissistic parenting and the roles the children play. For a majority of my life I was Jesse. (Her responses were spot on to self preservation). My brothers are James (flying monkeys/golden child) Now I’m Jenny. I refused to go to my brother’s wedding and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever done
I too was Jesse, growing up, walking on eggshells!
Trauma bonding.
Superb acting, especially from Mom.
This was so sad. But, they all love their siblings, so they will always have each other. The 3 are still a nice family by themselves. Great acting! Flawless. Perfect short.
Good one! The invisibility statement is true! I've experienced it, but I just say hello to everyone anyway. At this age it's more difficult to make friends, but it can be done. I did it!
Having to eat chicken from Kentucky Fried Chicken during an important day was classic. Didn't know they were all adopted.
How’d u know they were all adopted? I did not catch that part.
I didn’t either. It sounded like Jesse was but I didn’t get the understanding that the other 2 were.
Well acted, particularly James (H.C. Hankinson). James' flat effect, his parsimony of words, spoke volumes
Impressive- concept, script, acting. Actual dramatic synergy.
Brutally well acted all the way around. Sucks you in and does not let you go.
I'm so glad this ended with us seeing the loving bond of the siblings because the interactions with the mother made me so angry. It was so raw and real and knowing there are people like that that really exist is infuriating. Wonderful performances all around.
Oh, yeah. It feels like this family's emotional wellbeing is actually in the middle of the toxicity/abusiveness bell curve and not extreme (I have no data to back that up, just personal observation). Hurt people hurt people. My father was deeply wounded by his upbringing. He did what he could to not bring that hurt forward, with marginal success, frankly. He was deeply scarred, and he scarred others. Nothing like in this video, but still.... I'm finding that empathy, as explained by Brene Brown and others, has helped tremendously to heal my wounds. I'm so fortunate for my mother who is amazingly compassionate and caring and very safe to be with. She brought healing to my dad, I'm sure. Her influence is what put us at what I'll call the middle-low end of the toxicity/controlling/forceful/raging spectrum. The story's "family" I would see as at the higher end.... not the highest end to be sure. I have definitely seen worse. Nevertheless, they are rather high up on the toxicity scale.
Tutti bravissimi, ma la madre è un'attrice perfetta, da Oscar ❤
Is it just me or did anyone else notice she only adopted kids who's names started with a J? Coincidence ... I think NOT. This was SO GRITTY. Everyone cast & crew nailed this, props to all.
I noticed that as well. At first I thought that maybe she changed their names (because I wasn't sure how old they were when they were adopted). Either way, it just added to her controlling persona IMO.
Adoptive parents are extremely problematic in most cases. The savior complex "I'm such a wonderful human" combined with the guilt trips of "you should be grateful someone wanted you" along with the adopted kids having to validate the endless need by the adoptive parent to be told they're a wonderful mother or father. This character as a mother has bio kids who obviously think that she is a narcissistic, verbally and physically abusive control freak. She also smoked the whole time, thoughtlessly exposing them to secondhand smoke and would continue to expose a 5 year old with no apologies. Adoption is unethical in most cases especially potential homes like this one.
Completely accurate! Just to note though; the three children are not her biological children either! She adopted each of them at separate times@@gnostic268
Hats off omleto, you guys never disappoint me ❤.
The emotions, the expressions was so real. It was lot to see in a few minutes.
I was getting angry watching her, but the ending saved the day.
At the end they all agreed to say the truth which is courageous. They stayed together 🎉
Thank you for making such a brilliant short.
Take love ❤️
me too! The entire video really drew me in!
“We cannot have a world where everyone is a victim.
'I'm this way because my father made me this way. I'm this way because my husband made me this way'."
Yes, we are indeed formed by traumas that happen to us. But then you must take charge, you must take over, you are responsible.” - Camille Paglia
This thing brought me back, somehow, it's been so many years and it still echoes inside.
Heavy. Powerful. Dense indeed.
You be well guys. Do well :]
It seems at the end they took back their power by not allowing their mother to continue her damage to others. They also acknowledged that even through their ordeal they could still love each other if not their mother. 2:34 2:34
@@GaryM-algorth Of course they had to do that. The way they three interact and communicate without saying a thing is marvelous.
All the angles, dialogues, lightning, theme, was meticulously planned.
Quite the work.
@@Ljudet_Innan I agree. I was impressed that this wasn't just a film about victims or angry people.
That was really good. Like a really good full length movie, it feels complete. The story is between the lines, and the lines are great.
Thank you.
Hard to watch, it was acted so well by all. I grew up with a toxic, narcissistic mother. Some of the exchanges were exact.
Superbly acted! Great moving story!
Quickest I’ve caught one of these after posting and I was not disappointed!
Same haha
Well done. Toxicity leads to such unpredictable behaviors
This one was very good.
Almost ended up in this kind of situation myself. After my siblings and I all grew up and moved out, our mother wanted to be a foster parent. We avoided this conversation because she never actually got around to starting the process, but my siblings and I were not going to let it happen.
A bit *too* relateable haha
It took me a minute to place her, that’s the lady that played Jeanie on Mork and Mindy. This is amazingly real, I imagine this scenario plays in so many incarnations in life…it actually did in mine. My grandpa was a mean drunk most of their childhood, as adults before he passed they all grew together back around him, he bonded with his boys at the bars and casinos 😂 the message is clear in this, yeah sometimes they’re horrible people, but barring huge evil things, they’re all you get. And the one who will feel bad for not trying is you whether you like it or not, because you have to live with things and they might not.
This was very well done, thank you.
It is deep and realistic
Very interesting to way to looking back and understand one's up bringing.. I like it.
Geez! The anger emanating from her face @ 11:10 is absolutely palpable.... 😧
"Not a snowflakes chance in hell" would that woman ever be approved. It's not even worth a discussion.
So Many Forster Moms Are Just Like Her Though
No, but not the point. The reason she even thinks this is an option is the same reason why she thinks they are all "doing this to her".
This was good. More like comforting...
The mother is delusional. She just cannot admit how much she has hurt her children. There is no apology. But as children we need to forgive and move on
This should have been called the BIG ask!
I somewhat disagree on the forgiveness as a mandatory thing, but I fully agree on the moving on part (and of course if you personally need one to do the other, that's ok).
@@arualblues_zero Exactly. Especially because "forgiving" is almost always associated to rekindling the relationship, or putting up with the relationship. Even if it doesn't entail those things, forgiveness is something that just can't be forced. No one "needs" to forgive.
Amazing talent and writing!
Great Actors!!
Excellent.
Great story well done.
The invisibility kills us men too... But for us it's a bit twisted cause for our own age fellows we would do, but yeah, many of us middle aged men don't find them appealing - at all. This is well exaggerated and my personal opinion. It's sad tho.
Good short movie, I liked it.
16:52 “it doesn’t makes sense why I love her and hate myself….”. I smell narcissism 😢
Great writing and acting. I wonder whether there was a father around and if not, whether that would've helped.
This was beautiful ❤
POWERFUL.
The snowflake team has a great sense of humor
Oscar level performance!
Drama worthy
of BROADWAY.
The acting was
very real to life.
She must have
been tough as
shoe leather.
The children grown up
are much more
than possibly could
have been expected?
Interesting gambit.
I'd say NO.
I believe the children
knew her worst aspects
of personality and
her toughness
as her best?
_____
✝️
_____
Mom, i love you
so very much 💜
_____
this was awesome; ty
I can see Adam's channel get bigger soon, keep going sir
mummy help me build the wall
This woman is like my mother
a must watch
phenomenal filmmaking
Wow, I am glad I had a happy childhood.
Wow the animosity
Absolutely zero acknowledgement on the mothers end. At least taking some accountability for her actions as a parent would help these children a lot, and she cant even do that
Top Shelf
Good story!
Real. Good. Thank you. ❤
My mother. No father. My sisters. Now, weekly, in a watsapp phone call II sit' beside my sisters and 'watch the snow fall' warmed by their validation and love. 19:50
Wow beautiful film
well done!
É um mix confuso de emoções.
There's some good laughs in this one! 😂
Great performances
❤❤❤❤❤
One word. Ouch.... So many phycological personalities in this one video...
She is a horrible mother. She’s a miserable person.
Familia “todo me cae mal de ti” tipo
I love my mom i just wish she didn't beat me in the past
15:42 D.U.I ( I think it is what she said...)
I know it's not a very healthy thing to say but Jenny looks Valkyrie hot when she's upset/seething.
good one
“I’m not a monster.” Ha!!!
❤
I love your videos man
Waay too much cussing in here 😣 And it didn't make it any better!
Mom must have done sòmething right siblings love each other 'Dinner' 😊
1st ???
yes
Sad and unfortunately so true for so many people.