A Family Affair

Running time: N/A

Northern California Premiere Rachel, a nice Jewish woman from New York City, is getting married to Christine, a nice blond woman from San Diego. But that's not where the story really begins. As Rachel tells it, Mom first freaks out at the thought that her daughter is not going to marry a good looking doctor and give her perfect grandchildren. But Mom soon reverts to the quintessential Jewish mother, aggressively trying to fix up Rachel with every "Ms. Rightowitz" in town and proudly thinking of herself as the Mother of all Mothers of Lesbians. Yet, as Rachel plays out the dating game as a New York "fish out of water" in So-Cal, the real crisis occurs when Rachel's former lover, Reggie, appears right before the wedding to steal Rachel back to New York. Will Rachel succumb to the scheming charms of Reggie? Will Rachel's mom recruit every parent in San Diego to PFLAG? Will Rachel ever learn to roller blade? And most importantly, will Rachel actually go through with the wedding? Written by, directed by, and starring Helen Lesnick, A Family Affair takes the romantic comedy genre in a unique, uproarious, and quite charming direction. Reviewed by Sandy Wolf