Exclusive Clip: Michael Glover Smith’s Feature ‘Relative’ Expands to Woodridge and Wilmette

Chicago Film Project has announced the expansion of writer/director Michael Glover Smith’s (pictured here with his father at the theatrical premiere) fourth feature film, Relative, into suburban Woodridge and Wilmette following the acclaimed dramedy’s well-attended Chicago theatrical premiere at the Music Box Theatre and Gene Siskel Film Center.

To coincide with this expansion, SCREEN has obtained an exclusive clip of the film featuring acting legends Wendy Robie (TWIN PEAKS) and Francis Guinan (Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble) as Karen and David Frank, the patriarch and matriarch of a large Rogers Park family. The clip shows Smith’s penchant for combining comedy and drama as David and Karen discuss their children while lying in bed at night in a single long take.

“I couldn’t be happier that RELATIVE is moving into the ‘burbs for Father’s Day weekend,” Smith said in a statement to SCREEN. “I originally envisioned this movie as exactly the kind that people would want to take their parents to. I thought about my own parents a lot while I was writing it: Fran Guinan’s character, David, is named after my own father who just flew up from North Carolina to watch it with me at the Music Box last week.That really meant the world to me because I conceived of David Frank as a tribute to parental patience and kindness.”

The RELATIVE screening at Hollywood Blvd Cinema in Woodridge on Friday, June 17 will be followed by a Q&A with Smith and actress Emily Lape, moderated by Kicking the Seat critic Ian Simmons. There will be an encore screening at the same theater on Wednesday, June 22. Smith will also attend the screening at the Wilmette Theatre on Saturday, June 18, which will be followed by a Q&A with him and actress Heather Chrisler, moderated by Wilmette Public Library Adult Services Manager Jillian McKeown. For more information about these and other future screenings, including ticket info and showtimes, visit the film’s official website: www.relativemovie.com.