Other People

David Mulcahey is a NYC screenwriter who went through a breakup and moves back to his hometown Sacramento to help his ailing mother. The trip brings him face to face with a conservative father, and with sisters far younger than he is, living under the same roof after a decade apart. As his mother's illness deepens, David struggles to assign meaning to what feels like a grim, chaotic time and to keep up the appearance he is handling it all. He measures himself against the relatives around him, chasing a sense of normalcy while the house fills with memories. The film follows his attempts to convince others and himself he is doing okay without pretending everything is fine for him.

Directed by Chris Kelly from an original screenplay, Other People marks his feature debut. The film assembles a warm, lively ensemble led by Jesse Plemons opposite Molly Shannon, with Bradley Whitford, Maude Apatow and Madisen Beaty portraying the Mulcahey family.

Critics note the film subtly blends dry comedy with a sharp look at grief and obligation. It probes how a son parenthesizes his own life while caring for ailing kin, balancing witty lines with quiet, aching moments that reveal deeper questions about belonging and honesty for many viewers.

The film quietly contributes to conversations about family ties and the tension between caregiving and self expression. By letting a queer relationship surface through the characters dynamics without melodrama, it offers a humane portrait of love, responsibility, and the limits of outward appearances in small town life today and beyond.

The film did not become a major award draw, but it earned attention in the indie circuit for its restrained humor and emotional honesty, with praise directed at Plemons and Shannon for grounding serious material in relatable, everyday moments by some critics.