Krisha 2016

Krisha, a woman in her sixties grappling with a tumultuous past intertwining addiction and estrangement, seeks to reconnect with her family during the Thanksgiving holiday. After years apart, she has declared herself reformed and sober, striving for a fresh beginning. When she arrives at her sister Robyn’s spacious home, the atmosphere is charged, filled with family members, all greeting her warmly, yet beneath the surface, tensions loom.

As she attempts to mend her relationship with her son, Trey, her efforts are met with resistance. He remains cold and defensive, unwilling to engage, which leads to a painful confrontation when Krisha tries to elicit any response from him, ultimately causing him to walk away. The day unfolds with family members holding divided opinions about Krisha’s transformation. Some, like Robyn, cling to hope, convinced of her recovery, while others, particularly her brother-in-law Doyle, remain skeptical, dismissing her claims of sobriety as mere words.

The arrival of Krisha’s elderly mother only adds to her distress. Although her mother recognizes most of the family, she struggles to recall Krisha’s identity, causing Krisha’s heart to ache deeply. Frustrated and overwhelmed by the day’s events, she sneaks away to her bathroom, where she succumbs to the very vices she promised to leave behind—alcohol, prescription drugs, and even illegal substances.

As Thanksgiving progresses, the situation escalates when Krisha, intoxicated and frantic, causes chaos in the kitchen, spilling a perfectly roasted turkey onto the floor. The family’s horror is palpable as they rush to assist her, but Doyle merely laughs, highlighting the growing rift in family dynamics.

In a moment of clarity, Krisha watches home videos of a younger Trey, sparking a flood of emotions, leading her to call her boyfriend. Fueled by rage and a sense of betrayal, she leaves a scathing voicemail, accusing him of abandoning her in her time of need. When she finally faces the family again, she finds herself excluded from the modest Thanksgiving dinner. Robyn confronts her about her lies regarding sobriety—having once defended her within the family despite opposition.

The atmosphere turns volatile as Krisha, desperate for affection, confronts Trey, demanding to hear that he loves her. As the clash intensifies, tragedy strikes when she disruptively breaks silverware and lashes out at Robyn. The explosive argument culminates in her ejection from the house. The film closes on a haunting note, capturing Krisha’s pained expression as she gazes into the camera, struggling to stave off tears—a stark reminder of her fraught reality and the daunting path ahead.