Family dynamics can take many forms, with relationships ranging from supportive and nurturing to dysfunctional and harmful. This article explores how literature and film have portrayed examples of dysfunctional families. Examining these examples allows readers to better understand relationship patterns and their impacts.

Examples of Dysfunctional Families in Literature and Film

1.     Balm of Angels

Charles Dennis' 2023 novel “Balm of Angels” follows the lives of Oliver Courtland, a renowned playwright, and his son Hammond, a talented Broadway director. Set against the colorful backdrop of Manhattan's Upper West Side, the story tracks their journey of reconciliation over decades marked by separation, loss, and fractured bonds.  

Woven through flashbacks, Balm of Angels tenderly portrays the heartbreaks of the past and hope that even long-broken bonds may be healed. It's a profound story of love, loss, and the incredible power of second chances to mend rifts between families. At its heart, the novel brings the old Irish proverb "forgiveness is the balm of angels" richly to life.

2.     The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie (1945) is considered one of the earliest and most iconic depictions of a dysfunctional family. Amanda is a doting but overbearing mother stuck in the past, desperate to marry off her shy daughter Laura. Tom, unfulfilled by his job and longing for more adventure, feels trapped by his role as provider for the family. Laura herself, lame in one leg, withdraws into a fantasy world built around her collection of glass animals.

The dynamic of over-dependence and codependence in this tight-knit but stifled family unit rings true for many who have experienced similar patterns. While the time period adds nuance, themes of escapism, disappointment, and stunted potential remain startlingly relevant today.

3.     Raging Bull

Martin Scorsese's 1980 film Raging Bull, based on boxer Jake LaMotta's memoir, is considered one of the greatest movies ever made about masculinity, ambition, and inner turmoil. What's often overlooked, though, is how integral LaMotta's dysfunctional family dynamics were to his volatile personality and career trajectory.

LaMotta's relationships with his older brother, who was also his manager, and his wife Vickie were marked by codependence, jealousy, and domestic violence even before marriage. While his boxing success fueled his ego, it also fed into preexisting feelings of worth being tied to outward perception rather than inward health. Like with many dysfunctional families, lack of communication, bottled emotion, and abuse of power were the norm and later influenced LaMotta's decline.

4.     The Royal Tenenbaums

Wes Anderson's 2001 comedy-drama The Royal Tenenbaums presented a dysfunctional family like no other. Patriarch Royal and his three gifted adult children lived for years under the façade of a normal, loving family until their lies and dysfunction were revealed. Instead of addressing problems, each family member retreated inward, finding purpose and meaning apart from one another through their individual passions and talents.

Only by reuniting late in life did they begin to acknowledge and process the disconnect, resentment, and missed opportunities that had defined their youth. The film highlighted dysfunction disguised by quirks or talents and the necessity of difficult conversations when true healing is sought.

Conclusion

While these examples of dysfunctional families shed light on dark realities, portraying dysfunction also serves an important purpose—it increases our collective understanding and ability to recognize unhealthy patterns. It reminds us that imperfect relationships do not negate inherent worth or potential for growth. And it pushes discussions that can help destigmatize mental health issues and emotional literacy.