70
The chemistry between the siblings carries the film; they share a rich banter and subtle physical affection that feels real, built on years of shared intimacy — and this new experience of ignorance.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
100
Los Angeles Times by Gary Goldstein
I have only kind words for The Kind Words, an emotionally rich, beautifully textured family dramedy that touches on a wealth of interpersonal issues with buoyancy, charm and grace. It’s one of the best films so far this year.
80
The New York Times by Helen T. Verongos
Humor creeps in from strange sources, including a seller of funeral packages and a march through a Paris graveyard. And while not every motivation is clear, subtext isn’t everything in a movie as complex and satisfying as this one.
60
The Hollywood Reporter by Leslie Felperin
It's to the script's credit that it doesn't tie up the story in cute little bows and instead leaves a number of questions unanswered by the end.
63
At times, the film seems pat in its portrayal of modern Judaism struggling to maintain tradition in a changing world. Tonal shifts are problematic, with a maudlin score that evokes television melodrama giving way to quirky, sped-up sequences that treat family drama as light hijinks.