Kingdom of Us

Kingdom of Us is an emotionally charged, deeply moving British documentary film that premiered at the London Film Festival in 2017. The film is directed by Lucy Cohen and is a harrowing yet hopeful examination of grief, mental illness and the power of family in the face of tragedy. This hauntingly beautiful film features Jamie-Jodie Shanks, Kacie-Kimie Shanks and Lorie-Lanie Shanks; it narrates their family story with authenticity, courage and a sense of resilience.

The film begins with presenting us an intimate portrait of the musically gifted, engaging Shanks family, who live in a quaint English town, painting an image of their seemingly idyllic life. However, the beauty of the everyday is soon disrupted by a heartbreaking truth; the father of the family, Paul Shanks, took his own life leaving his wife and seven children behind. The narrative thereafter delicately unravels the emotional trauma and consequent struggles of the life-altering incident.

It is through this premise that the Kingdom of Us navigates a deeply human narrative about the enduring strength of familial bonds amidst adversity. The documentary artfully tries to explore how grief could dominate an entire family, yet at the same time have distinct, personal impacts on each member. Attention is given to each child, and the mother, in a substantial way to bring to the fore their individual experiences and coping mechanisms.

The Shanks family allows us into their lives with an honesty that is sometimes uncomfortable yet endearing. The film features profoundly touching homemade videos created by the father himself, providing the audience an indirect way to piece together his personality and the joyful times the family had shared before the tragic incident. This adds layers of deep personal experiences to the documentary, seeing the father through his own eyes and through his children’s memories.

Amidst the struggle and sorrow, the narrative of Kingdom of Us does a commendable job of portraying the resilience of the family. Despite the open wound left by a loved one's suicide, the film doesn’t just focus on the hardships, it also showcases how each member of the family takes one step after another to healing and rebuilding their lives. The strength of the family bond is captured with tenderness, so much so that the family home itself becomes an emblem of healing with corners filled with arts, crafts, music created by the children and mother. As viewers, we witness the Shanks family's journey from disarray to acceptance, blooming from their shared grief into their individual paths of recovery.

Director Lucy Cohen's observant and empathic storytelling is also effectively highlighted in the film's technical aspects. The cinematography is sincere, capturing the natural beauty of the surroundings as well as the intimate and mundane inside the Shanks’ household. The editing carefully transitions between the past and the present, the personal and the universal, the hopeful and the despairing.

In essence, Kingdom of Us is not just a documentary about a family grappling with the loss of a loved one. It’s an exploration of the aspects of mental health, the impact of suicide on families, and the importance of moment-to-moment survival. Far from serving a standard narrative about overcoming grief, it encapsulates the complexity and diversity of human experiences and emotions in the face of trauma.

Significantly, it’s a beautiful testament to the Shanks family and their undeniable spirit. They serve as a gentle reminder of the strength of human resilience, where survival isn’t always victorious but a testament to continuing amidst despair.

The film, with its raw emotional energy, unfiltered depiction of pain, and the enduring spirit of humanity, makes for an engrossing cinematic experience. It serves as a reminder that healing is possible, that laughter can exist alongside tears, and that life, in all its complexity, continues.

Kingdom of Us is a deeply moving, thoughtful film that conveys a poignant message about love, loss, family, and healing. It's an important look at mental health, grief, and resilience that feels as universal as it is deeply personal. It’s a testament to the Shanks family, their pain, their laughs, their resilience - and their kingdom.