The Family

The Family, also known as Malavita in some countries, is a 2013 black comedy film directed by Luc Besson, starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones. The story follows the lives of Giovanni Manzoni, a notorious Italian mobster, and his family after they enter the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC) and relocate to a quaint town in France. The film begins with Giovanni, a ruthless and cunning Mafia leader, who, after being forced to testify against his former associates, decides to cooperate with the authorities. He is granted a new identity, Fred Blake, and his wife, Maggie, and their teenage sons, Belle and Warren, are relocated to Normandy, France, under the witness protection program. Their new life is supposed to be a peaceful one, far from the troubles of their past. The Blakes, as they are now known, settle into their new surroundings, and at first, they seem to be adapting well to their new life. They live in a beautiful farm house, attend community gatherings, and try to fit in with the locals. However, it soon becomes apparent that Giovanni, now Fred, finds it increasingly difficult to abandon the ways of his past. He continues to maintain connections with his old Mafia acquaintances and still conducts business deals in his free time. Maggie, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, is a strong-willed woman who tries to maintain some semblance of normalcy in their new life. She is the glue that holds the family together, encouraging the kids to keep busy and pursue their passions. Despite their best efforts to conform to the law-abiding citizen lifestyle, the entire family struggles with adapting to the new rules and regulations that come with living in the witness protection program. Their lives become more complicated when they begin to attract attention from their new neighbors. The patriarch of the Jones family, Don Warren Stansfield, is particularly fascinated by the Blakes and starts to become overly friendly, which makes Fred increasingly uneasy. As tensions rise, the family's façade of normalcy begins to crack, and their dark past starts to catch up with them. The arrival of Don Leone, a ruthless Italian mobster, serves as a reminder of the danger that Fred and his family face. Don Leone and his cohorts are hot on their heels, determined to bring them back into the fold or eliminate them altogether. This sets off a chain of events that puts the entire family in grave danger. Meanwhile, the family's eldest son, Warren, struggles to come to terms with the new reality. He is torn between his loyalty to his family and his desire to fit in with his new peers. His younger sister, Belle, on the other hand, is an assertive and confident young woman who finds herself drawn to a fellow teenager, Luca. As the danger closes in, the entire family must work together to protect themselves and keep their secrets hidden from their handlers and the outside world. As the story unfolds, the boundaries between their old life and their new one start to blur. The film raises questions about the nature of identity, loyalty, and the consequences of past actions. The family's dependence on their old habits and connections puts them at risk, and they must confront the reality of their situation in order to survive. In the end, the Blakes learn to adapt to their new circumstances and find ways to maintain their relationships with each other and their surroundings. Despite the danger that lurks around every corner, the family finds a way to navigate their complex lives and build a fragile sense of normalcy in their new home. The film concludes with a poignant and humorous twist, as the Blakes' journey is brought full circle, and their new identity is solidified once and for all.