Family Practice is an intriguing Swiss drama that pulls viewers into a web of tangled emotions, shifting loyalties, and complicated family ties. Directed with a steady, observant hand by Jeshua Dreyfus, the film examines how deep-rooted tensions can bubble to the surface when long-standing resentments and blurred boundaries collide in unexpected ways.

At the center of the story is Simon, a young man who carries a complex mixture of admiration, resentment, and unresolved longing toward his father, Karl. Karl is a polyamorous Jewish psychiatrist whose lifestyle choices shape the rhythm of the household and influence everyone within its orbit. When the parents leave for vacation, the home becomes an open stage for Simon’s unresolved conflicts to play out.

Simon’s decision to involve himself with Sonja Brunner, his father’s mistress, becomes the film’s pivotal thread. Their interactions unfold with an uneasy tension, reflecting not seduction for pleasure but an attempt at control, identity, and emotional retaliation. The situation slowly tightens like a knot pulled from both ends, revealing just how fragile the family structure truly is.

What stands out is the film’s willingness to explore emotional complexity without rushing toward judgment. Each character exists in shades of grey, guided by desires, insecurities, and the need to be seen. The narrative treats these dynamics with sensitivity, showing how personal history can push people into choices that feel both reckless and deeply human.

Visually, Family Practice relies on intimate framing and quiet domestic settings, creating an atmosphere where conversations feel heavier and silence holds meaning. The pacing mirrors the characters’ instability, shifting from calm to tension in subtle waves that keep the audience alert.