What makes The Savages an independent film?

For my second blog post, I chose to watch the film The Savages. I was drawn to the film, because of the strong cast and critical acclaim. The film was the official selection for 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival and many others. It also was nominated for two Academy Awards, and won for Best Male Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards. The Savages follows Wendy (Laura Linney) and Jon Savage’s (Philip Seymour Haffman) journey in taking care of their estranged father Lenny Savage (Philip Bosco). The film focuses on the issues these two middle aged siblings face in their lives, which was the result of their father’s abuse to them when they were children. For instance, Wendy Savage was an unsuccessful playwright working through a temp agency, who was having an affair with a married man, and who throughout the film lies. She lied to Larry (Peter Friedman), her married lover about her Pap smear results, and she also lied to Jon about where she really got the funding to do her play. It is also apparent that Wendy has depression and anxiety issues, for she is always popping various tranquilizers and pain killers. Jon Savage is an unmarried professor of Drama, who won’t marry his girlfriend of three years. Throughout the film he is very distant and reserved during typical emotional situations, but then will be seen crying when his girlfriend makes him eggs.
This film follows a very typical linear structure, and blurs the lines between independent and Hollywood, as have many of the later films that we viewed in class. The film contains a well known cast, though it wasn’t a major blockbuster hit, for it was platform booked on opening weekend, only showing on four screens. However, the film does deal with an uncomfortable subject, especially when Lenny in the beginning of the film is handling with his feces. Also there is no resolution between the siblings and their father. There is no forgiveness, making peace, or apology in the movie between them and their father. The siblings are nontraditional and deal with matters in nontraditional ways. And what I feel makes this film most independent is the arty tone of the movie. Not in the sense of the way that the film was shot, but there is a heavy influence of theater in the film. Both Wendy and Jon are involved in theater, and often make reference to specific plays or playwrights. All in all this film was very good. The tone is very sad and depressing, though it does end on a subtle happier note.