25 must-see films playing at this year’s AFI Fest

Family

What’s the story?: Taylor Schilling plays Kate Stone, a determined career woman who finds herself saddled with her tween niece who wants to run off and become a Juggalo. Forced to live together, the two end up bonding, finding a new meaning to the word “family.”

Family appears to tell a familiar story in an unfamiliar way. The story of a woman uninterested in children because she’s focused on her career is nothing new at this point, but what distinguishes Family is the relationship between Kate and her niece, two independent women who have unconventional ambitions they have in life. It’s just for Kate’s niece, she wants to become a Juggalo (if you’re unclear what that means, a Juggalo is a follower of the band Insane Clown Posse).

Considering this is the final season of Schilling’s long-running Netflix series, Orange is the New Black, this will work toward propelling her in a new direction for audiences. Schilling is joined by Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon (who is always a joy to see no matter how big the role) as well as Brian Tyree Henry, who’s having an amazing year between this, his work on Atlanta, and his appearances in Widows (also playing at AFI Fest) and If Beale Street Could Talk. All this talent looks to elevate a family dramedy into something truly special.