Lithgow & Colman Explore Queer Family Ties

The new feature film Jimpa, starring John Lithgow and Olivia Colman, recently had its Dutch premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The drama focuses on themes of queerness, parenthood, and imperfect intergenerational connections. Inspired by director Sophie Hyde's gay activist father, the film features Lithgow as Jim, a character who calls himself 'Jimpa' to sidestep the term 'grandpa.' Jim had previously left his family to live a free, gay life in Amsterdam. The narrative unfolds as Jim's daughter Hannah (Colman), her non-binary teenager Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde), and Hannah's husband visit Jimpa. Jimpa encourages Frances to explore queer Amsterdam, where she encounters various characters. Following the screening, a discussion titled "Big Talk: A Queer Family Affair" took place, highlighting the global challenges to queer rights. Producer Marleen Slot emphasized the film's core message of connection, while director Hyde shared her personal wish for her father and her child to have connected over their experiences. Lithgow commented on the positive experience of filming in the Netherlands, praising the hospitality and the collaborative spirit among the cast and crew. He lauded Colman's acting abilities and expressed hope that the film would foster greater consciousness, tolerance, and empathy. Lithgow also reflected on the film's importance in a world marked by cruelty and misuse of power, describing Jimpa as a film about empathy and kindness. Other cast members, including Hans Kesting and Zoë Love Smith, echoed sentiments of joy and connection that characterized the production. Smith recounted the technical and collaborative process of filming an intimate scene with the director's child, emphasizing the professional environment on set.