The Relatives (2021)

The Relatives is the kind of road movie that sneaks up on you: it starts with a stubborn father’s long-delayed dream and quickly becomes a funny, bruisingly human ride across Russia where every mile exposes a little more truth. Ilya Aksenov keeps the tone warm and lively, balancing comedy with the ache of family friction, and Sergey Burunov anchors it with a performance that’s equal parts infuriating and weirdly sympathetic. The film’s pleasures come from its momentum—new places, small misadventures, and the way shared confinement forces people to finally talk (or explode) like real relatives do. If you prefer neat, conflict-free family stories, this one may feel too raw, but if you like your laughs earned and your emotions honest, it’s an easy trip to say yes to.

The Relatives wants to be a heartfelt, funny road-trip dramedy about a domineering father dragging his family across Russia toward a long-delayed dream, with the journey forcing everyone to confront what they’ve been swallowing for years. The problem is it often leans on familiar “tyrant dad” chaos and episodic detours, so if you’re hoping for sharp comedy or truly surprising turns, it can feel like you’ve seen this family-therapy-on-wheels setup before. Sergey Burunov brings some much-needed energy and bite, and the Russian road backdrop gives the film a lived-in texture, but the emotional beats can be a bit on-the-nose. If you enjoy character-driven travel stories where the destination matters less than the grudging bonding along the way, you’ll be fine; if controlling-parent dynamics frustrate you or you want tighter pacing, this may test your patience.