Your Sister’s Sister (2012)
82%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 8 nominations
Superbly acted and satisfyingly engaging, Your Sister’s Sister subverts rom-com conventions with sensitive direction, an unconventional screenplay, and a big heart
Your Sister’s Sister is like a warm hug from a friend you haven’t seen in a while. The improvised dialogue feels natural and the performances from Duplass, Blunt, and DeWitt are pitch-perfect. It’s a movie that’s all about relationships, and the emotional intrigue between the three characters is captivating. Plus, who doesn’t love a good love triangle? Overall, it’s a touching and funny film that’s definitely worth your time.
Production Company(ies)
Zazen Produções
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
San Juan Islands, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some sexual content
Year of Release
2012
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2012
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass, directed by Lynn Shelton, written by Lynn Shelton, comedy, drama, romance, R rating, box office gross $1.6M, IFC Films, Steven Schardt producer, reviewed by Kate Stables, Chase Whale, Mick LaSalle, Philippa Hawker, Tara Brady, Marjorie Baumgarten, Katie Smith-Wong, Brian D Johnson, Ivan Radford, Kelly Jane Torrance, unexpected love triangle, improvised dialogue, relationships, grief, unrequited love, unconventional screenplay, big heart, superbly acted, satisfyingly engaging, subverts rom-com conventions, sensitive direction, trio of pitch-perfect performances, poignant, funny directness, teasing incompleteness, beautiful scenery, naturalistic believable dialogue, charming indie dramedy, appealing, funny, good cast, empathize with all three characters, predictable ending, change of pace from other rom-coms, best threesome you’ll see all year
Worldwide gross: $3,242,802
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,180,700
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,223
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 455,911
US/Canada gross: $1,636,190
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,109,416
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,020
US/Canada opening weekend: $109,221
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $140,810
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,809
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $125,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $161,153
Production budget ranking: 2,137
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $86,781
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,932,766
ROI to date (est.): 1,586%
ROI ranking: 66
Rosemarie DeWitt – Hannah
Mark Duplass – Jack
Mike Birbiglia – Al
Jason Dodson – Tom’s Friend
Evan Mosher – Tom’s Friend
Lynn Shelton – Director/Writer
Steven Schardt – Producer
Director(s)
Lynn Shelton
Writer(s)
Lynn Shelton
Producer(s)
Steven Schardt
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (145) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (121) | Rotten (24)
Though the dialogue is mostly improvised, it feels rooted in the relationships as well as pleasingly spontaneous.
July 31, 2018
Kate Stables
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
It’s comforting to watching dramatic and comic fiction regarding the things some of us actually have to deal with in life. When done right, those kinds of films are worth your time. YOUR SISTER’S SISTER happens to be one of them.
November 8, 2013
Chase Whale
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
Movies that start well and end badly occur often enough, and yet even knowing that is no preparation for what happens to Your Sister’s Sister.
January 8, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Deceptively meandering and unexpectedly complex, Your Sister’s Sister combines a poignant, funny directness with a teasing incompleteness.
September 6, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5
Philippa Hawker
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Duplass is wonderful but even he can’t shine as brightly as Emily Blunt.
June 29, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
The film’s conceits may be a bit too contrived and conventional, but nothing about these characters’ interactions are forced. Your Sister’s Sister is a welcome guest.
June 29, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A little too quiet and slow in places, Your Sister’s Sister is warm and touching with three great lead performances.
December 10, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Katie Smith-Wong
Musings of Guitargalchina
It’s a movie that’s all relationships all the time. The story is scripted but the dialogue is improvised, as a chamber piece performed by just three actors-a tiny-perfect triangle of emotional intrigue.
July 31, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
With its trio of pitch-perfect performances, this is probably the best threesome you’ll see all year.
January 25, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Ivan Radford
CineVue
We might not know exactly what either of these women sees in the unemployed, underripe Jack. But they’re winning enough for the audience to hope they get what they want.
January 3, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner
Duplass, Blunt and DeWitt fit Shelton’s world with an ease that allows the film to become much more than its initial set up would lead one to believe.
August 14, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Neish
HeyUGuys
Huge, primal emotions – grief, unrequited love, the longing for family – are expressed here as the everyday, and it’s in this that Your Sister’s Sister finds its quiet power.
May 21, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Emma Dibdin
The Arts Desk…
Plot
Iris invites her friend Jack, who’s mourning his brother’s death, to her father’s cottage for some alone time to recuperate, but they discover that Iris’ sister Hannah is already there recovering from a recent break-up. One whole bottle of tequila later, Jack and Hannah wake up to find Iris at the door. All three have secrets they’re trying to keep and feelings they’re trying to sort out.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Emily Blunt’s performance in Your Sister’s Sister is described as “winning enough for the audience to hope they get what they want.”
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