A Delicate Balance

"The sister who drank too much. The daughter who divorced too much. They're all there when Tobias and Agnes have their little get-together and tear-apart."

1973-11-12

6.273

en 133m

Drama

In their finely appointed Connecticut home, Agnes and Tobias have grown used to the imperfection and fragility of their marriage. Quietly nursing their grief over the death of their son, they get by well enough together. Agnes' boozy sister wanders in and out, and they allow anxiety-stricken friends to move into an upstairs room. But, when their daughter, Julia, shows up announcing her fourth divorce, long-repressed emotions come to the surface.

Director of Photography

David Watkin

Director

Tony Richardson

Producer

Ely A. Landau

Art Direction

David Brockhurst

Writer

Edward Albee

Sound Recordist

Simon Kaye

infidelity friendship primal fear black humor based on play or musical family secrets dysfunctional family alcohol abuse divorcee divorced woman tolerance family conflict family home father daughter conflict house guest annoying sister self reflection family crisis suburban modernism houseguest wealthy family irresponsible sister emotional breakdown existential emptiness personal demons hysterical drunks facade emotional instability anxiety dialog driven self-examination long-married couple stale marriage existential crisis impending divorce sisters relationship lifelong friendship shattered reality multiple marriages scrutiny of friendship acerbic alcoholic upper middle class family couples as best friends boundaries of friendship alcoholic sister comfortable marriage one weekend bitter daughter