George Clooney delivers “profound meditation on stewardship” in ‘The Descendants’ movie review with Shailene Woodley, directed by Alexander Payne.
The Descendants
2011 – R
1h 55m
Director – Alexander Payne
Writers – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Stars – George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller
The Descendants Movie Review
Matt King is a man caught in an emotional undertow. A Honolulu attorney and the trustee of 25,000 acres of pristine family land on Kauai, Matt has inherited more than just a legal obligation—he’s inherited the pressure of generations, the weight of cultural and familial expectations, and a decision that will define what kind of ancestor he wants to be.
When his wife is left in a coma after a boating accident, Matt reconnects with his two daughters—ten-year-old Scottie and seventeen-year-old Alex. Scottie is acting out as any child would under the circumstances and Alex hides a painful secret that will make this dark moment much more complicated: their mother, Matt’s wife, was having an affair. As her condition worsens, Matt must navigate the emotional terrain of loss and betrayal while facing an indelible decision about the land that binds his family together.
The land becomes a symbol of everything Matt has to reckon with: his marriage, his role as a father, and what it means to honor a legacy. What begins as a story about death and decisions blossoms into a profound meditation on stewardship—of people, property, and memory.
For anyone considering what they’ll leave behind—emotionally, financially, or environmentally—The Descendants offers an intimate and compelling portrait of inheritance in all its forms. It’s not just about passing down assets. It’s about passing down values, choices, and the stories that come with them.