Family As A House

Life as a House is a 2001 film starring Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Hayden Christensen. Directed by Irwin Winkler and written by Mark Andrus, the film involves the metaphorical and emotional underpinnings of demolishing and reconstructing a house. The film is set in picturesque Rancho Palos Verdes, California and is notable for its dramatic use of the coast and of sunsets.Kevin Kline plays George Monroe, who is fired from his job as a designer of architectural models and is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He enlists the help of his reluctant and rebellious son Sam, played by Hayden Christensen, to demolish the shack that George inherited from his abusive father and build an elegant home in its place. During this experience, George reconnects with his son and his divorced wife Robin, played by Kristin Scott Thomas. The movie is a source of discovery both for George and Sam. Sam in particular changes from a rebellious drug taking teen into something more closely resembling his father. This is evident in the final sequence, in which Sam gives the house to a woman disabled by a car accident caused by George's father while driving under the influence.

"Life as a house seen from a distance, it's perfect."