Austin Film Festival Movie Review: ‘The Problem with People’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Colm Meaney and Paul Reiser as Ciáran Gorman and Barry Gorman in THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE.

If there is one thing, we can all agree upon right now, it is that the world is a very divided place. After all, there are countries fighting at this very moment, and they’re battling over territories in the name of ego and legacy and because they believe one side’s view is the only correct one. Not to mention, here in the United States, there are few who are united. For politically, so many have retreated behind party lines, and generationally speaking, the old guard refuses to let the new guard take over and guide the future of the country based upon the belief that outdated ideologies should win the day. If anything, it’s just safe to say the world is a mess and there appears to be no relief or end in sight. Which does beg some important questions, the kind that we have asked for ages on end.
​
In that, how have we reached this particular point of divide and what would it take to stop it? Because we’re all so, very, very tired of the fighting, and we’re all ready to see the world move forward in some manner. Yet we continue to be stuck and continue to battle it out over silly things. But slowly and surely, we are indeed garnering some understanding of how we move forward and how perhaps we find peace and as is often the case, storytelling is leading the way. Because stories are the safe place where bold ideas can be conjectured and where obvious and simple paths can be forged, and recently a film that features that kind of logic and some solid ideas on how we stop the nonsense and unify, screened at the Austin Film Festival, and that makes The Problem with People, quite the important motion picture.

One that offers up observations and lessons through a supremely beautiful and comedic story. One that plunges us into the midst of a unique moment for the Gorman family in Ireland. For Ciáran’s father believes the end of his life is near, and his dying wish, is that he wants his son’s help in fixing a longstanding feud within the family. For long ago, two Gorman brothers parted ways in a sour manner. Giving rise to two family lines and regret. Regret that there was no unity, and no reconciliation, and now, the hope is that Ciáran can entice Barry Gorman to swing by Ireland to repair the damage and forge a new path. A request that does bring forth great joy when Barry agrees. But when Ciáran’s dad decides that a bold move is in order to properly heal the family line, one that will impact Ciáran’s livelihood… things quickly change and the feud… finds new life for a new generation. Leaving these distant cousins to wonder, can there be peace within the family line?

---

Which at first glance is a plot that seemingly looks less at how we heal our ailing world and instead provides us with hard observations on the problem at hand. But truly, we need to see the problem up close and person to understand it, and the genesis of this new chapter in the feud, does just that, and allows for the core mission of this film to come to fruition. Because it allows for us to understand that too much of what we fight over, is grounded in simple and stupid stuff. Stuff that quite frankly, we could overcome if we put ego to the wayside for just a moment and listened to one another, and actually used our words to communicate in an honest manner. Giving rise to a powerful story about how much time we’ve wasted as a species worrying about who is right, who is wrong and who is superior and that does indeed lead to some fine musings on how this happens, and how we fix it. 
​
But of course, there was mention of the fact that this is a comedic romp in nature, and it is important to spotlight that as well. Because that allows for the important lessons at hand to never be overwhelming or too powerful, and it also allows for a unique and human story to take place. One that explores the folly of our actions, and the wonder of who we are as a species. Allowing for hope to come into this tale, and for us to really look at some of our actions with a hilarious objectivity. The kind that definitely gives one pause and further hammers home the lessons in question. Because a lot of the funnier stuff here reflects how we do act, and how ridiculous we can be at times, and that is something worth lampooning. But above all, the comedy just works here, and the jokes are funny, and you will laugh aloud and that is often made possible by way of the cast.

For this is a film that stars Paul Reiser (Barry), Colm Meaney (Ciáran), and Jane Levy (Natalya), and they are all masters of their craft and masters of comedy as well. And their work here really sells the wonder of the joke and the wonder of the moment. All of which brings forth, a beautiful and poignant film. One that really explores in great detail how easily we could step away from our sour nature and embrace our better angels but is honest in telling us… how hard that will be…. because we’ve never really tried. But if we did, if we genuinely did, wonders would indeed be accomplished, and at long last… we could see the world in a whole new light and find a unique understanding of our place in the universe, all while sharing a pint with the beautiful people that surround us.

---