Austin Film Festival Movie Review: ‘Autumn’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

The Family Dynamic Changes in Antonio Sequeira’s AUTUMN.

The day that each and every one of us leave home for college, or to set out into the world, is supposed to be quite the special day and understandably so. After all, this day is the culmination of eighteen years of growth and learning and hard work from all parties. And that is why we cherish this day and celebrate it and see it as nothing but purely positive. But if there one constant truth that accompanies days we cherish, it is that they are not exactly what we expect them to be in our mind, and this event is no exception to that rule. After all, there’s no cinematic feel to this day. There’s the usual chaos that accompanies traveling, and this is a moment of great change in everyone’s life and sadly… we don’t talk about this. Or the impact it could have upon people. But thankfully, this new era of storytelling is working to change that.
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For day in and day out, there are creatives eager to accurately document the human experience in print, or on television or in film and it just so happens… that a film from writer/director Antonio Sequeira, that recently screened at the Austin Film Festival, takes the time to explore what the reality of that moment in our lives actually looks like, and the lasting impact of having the family unit go its own path for all the right reasons. A feat that Autumn accomplishes by introducing us to a Portuguese family that is dealing with that all-important day. For the eldest son is headed to college and while there is indeed pomp and circumstance over him leaving home to learn and grow… what follows his exit, is nothing short of chaos. For everything changes for the family, and those changes are reflected when he comes home to visit during breaks at university.

Which gives rise to a powerful story, one that truly chronicles how that moment impacts so much. Such as how leaving home changes our perspective on so much in life. Since we learn about the world as it really is when we get out there, and that changes our worldview and makes us question some of the lessons we learned growing up. Not to mention, this young man’s experiences also remind us of the fact that when we leave home, we are indeed on our own. Where it is up to us to use what we have learned to create stability and income and peace, and that gives us a real taste of how tough adulthood will be down the line, and it also gives us a sense of appreciation and melancholy for what we’ve lost, and that’s all covered here in a magnificent manner that is relatable and impactful.

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Plus, the movie makes sure to cover what parents go through as well. Such as grief. Because just like that… there is no more caring for their little one, and a familiar routine that’s been part of their days for eighteen years is gone. And that can create real struggles at home, as they work to adjust and of course… that also amplifies for parents, their age, and where they are at in life. Because that’s a huge chapter closed and it definitely prompts one to look at the road ahead and well… those two key elements, create a very visceral feature. One that feels painfully real often. Simply because, we are privy to moments that we have either lived through or will live through and well… in the end, all of those elements make for a brilliant motion picture. 
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Simply because, it is rare, even in this incredible age of film, for a movie to try and just capture the moment as it stands. For the belief is always that dramatic effect takes precedence or that a story or some kind of narrative has to be tied to these events to make them more palatable. But here, we are simply witnessing a year in the life… of people. In fact, setting the movie in Portugal only adds to the wonder of this motion picture. For that serves as a fine reminder that these kinds of moments, are universal and human, and are not exclusive to a particular culture. But what truly makes this motion picture worth our while… are the core messages that all of these important moments/memories are designed to send our way.

In that, while this day may not be as magical as we would like for it to be, it is still a critical moment in our lives. For this is when one chapter ends and another begins, and we get the opportunity in every sense of the word… to write a new one as we see fit. Because once the mourning is done, and once the change is adjusted to… we go on. For the kids forge a path in the world and find their place within it and carry with them eighteen wondrous years of memories and connection that can never be lost or severed, and the parents go on… and live. Live with the knowledge they’ve done something special, something wonderful, and they can now rest and catch up on a few goals they hadn’t before, and hopefully in the end, the powerful lessons present here and the poignant moments as well, will make this a foundational film for years to come for families on the brink of the next chapter of their lives.

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