Royal’s reaction is nothing short of disgust, saying “I don’t like the sound of this one damn bit, Pagoda,” and “I mean, Lord knows I’ve had my share of infidelities. In fact, the first words spoken to Royal regarding the news are “The black man asks her to be his wife,” by his servant Pagoda (Kumar Pallana), an Indian man, and the only other nonwhite character in the film besides Sherman. In the movie, Sherman is Etheline’s long-time business manager and friend, and his proposal to her is the catalyst for Royal’s schemes to win back her affection. Henry Sherman (Danny Glover), the only Black character central to the film, is frequently dismissed and looked down on by other characters, particularly Royal. But the truth is that this film was made about two decades ago, written by two white men and featuring a predominantly white cast, and that fact unfortunately shines through. Anderson’s characters, much like the style of the film, are eccentric and fascinating to watch on screen. This isn’t to say that the storyline is poorly written or overly simplistic on the contrary, the film stands as a humorous and intriguing portrait of life in a dysfunctional family. In spite of the film’s compelling cinematography, the plot leaves much to be desired. Artistic choices such as these are unconventional and visually enticing, and that may be the film’s greatest strength. Moreover, while watching the film, it’s difficult to tell when exactly it takes place - characters dress in clothing from a wide array of different time periods, from old Western clothing to Adidas tracksuits.
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The story is told in a very idiosyncratic way, presenting itself as a series of separate chapters, like a novel. While the film is well done on many levels, with strong visuals and styling, it has one fatal flaw: its mishandling of POC characters.įor background, “The Royal Tenenbaums” tells the story of the three Tenenbaum children, former prodigies for whom greatness has come and gone, and their estranged father Royal’s efforts to win back their mother Etheline (Anjelica Huston) following their long-term separation. The plot centers around the titular Tenenbaum family, with Gene Hackman portraying the family’s unfaithful, dishonest, and largely-absent patriarch, Royal Tenenbaum. Made in 2001, the film is quirky and stylized, with a highly saturated and vivid color palette that makes it ever so appealing to the eye. “The Royal Tenenbaums” is a quintessential Wes Anderson movie.