Saagar Kote
Netflix’s ‘Almost Family’ is a romantic comedy film that follows the story of Mariana, the daughter of a bar owner named Otávio in Brazil, who falls in love with an Argentine man named Miguel while they pursue music education in Paris. When she invites her dad and the rest of her chaotic family to meet her boyfriend’s family in Bariloche, Argentina, it leads to a hilarious and heartwarming tale of confusion, cultural differences, familial bonds, and love. As the couple navigates through the behaviors of the eccentric members of both families, they find themselves torn between two worlds. As the narrative nears its end, Mariana is faced with a difficult choice between her own ambitions and her love for Miguel. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Almost Family Plot Synopsis
Otávio is the owner of a bustling bar named Otávio’s Bites and Drinks in Brazil. His daughter, Mariana, a talented violinist, is preparing for an important audition. Otávio wants her to help with the lunch service, but she is focused on her music. The family consists of Otávio, his daughter, his second wife Joana, and her son, Felipinho. Having been accepted into a music school in Paris, she expresses her desire to leave Brazil. Otávio, however, is unhappy with this decision, urging her to stay and help expand the bar into a franchise, but this doesn’t stop her from going to Paris to pursue her dreams.
Three years later, Otávio is thrilled to receive a text message announcing Mariana’s return. Upon her arrival, he excitedly shows her the renovations in the bar, still hoping she will take an interest in the business. Mariana then reveals that she has fallen in love with an Argentinian man named Miguel in Paris. She proposes a family trip to Bariloche, Argentina, where her lover’s parents own a hotel, and they have invited her family to get acquainted. Otávio is initially hesitant but eventually agrees. On the flight to Argentina, Otávio assures Mariana of his unwavering support, regardless of her choices.
Miguel’s parents, Héctor and Norma, warmly greet Mariana’s family—which includes Joana and Felipinho—at the airport. Otávio, dressed rather unusually, struggles with Héctor’s accent. En route to Martin’s Hotel & Gastronomia, Héctor’s establishment, they pass Lake Nahuel Huapi. During dinner, Miguel and Mariana are asked about their post-marriage plans, to which they respond that they intend to move to Europe. Both are offered the opportunity to take over their respective fathers’ restaurants. Adding to the awkwardness, Carol, Miguel’s ex-girlfriend, also works at the hotel.
Otávio begins to suspect that Miguel and Carol might still be secretly involved. The following day, the families go sledding at Punto De Salida, where Otávio and Héctor fall and find themselves lost in the wilderness. During this ordeal, the Brazilian tells the Argentinian his suspicions about Miguel and Carol, and both fathers agree they don’t want their children to marry. Miguel mentions open auditions for the Bariloche Philharmonic, but Mariana, still set on Europe, expresses disinterest. Miguel appears a little sad, still contemplating whether to stay in Argentina or move to Europe. Otávio and Joana discuss their situation in their room, with Otávio revealing Héctor’s doubts about the marriage. Joana advises him to accept that everything is fine and to celebrate Miguel and Mariana’s relationship.
Almost Family Ending: Why Did Mariana and Miguel Break Up? Will They Get Married?
Mariana and Miguel have had a deep relationship since they met in Paris and fell in love. They decide to take their bond to the next level by introducing their families to each other. As the two families struggle to identify with each other’s personalities and cultures, the lovers find themselves in a dilemma, involving their plans for the future, especially whether or not they move to Europe for greater opportunities or stay in South America with their families. In an earlier scene, Héctor discusses love and life with Miguel, revealing he’s secured an apartment in Bariloche for him and Mariana.
As a sponsor of the Bariloche Philharmonic, Héctor says he can also facilitate Mariana’s entry into the orchestra. In a pivotal scene, when the two families are having dinner, Miguel receives a text from Carol, which says “I’m here,” and he leaves the table to meet her. Otávio observes this and follows, witnessing a man and woman kissing behind a bathroom door. He returns to the table, accusing Miguel of having sex with Carol in the bathroom and betraying his daughter. However, it’s revealed that Felipinho and Carol were in the bathroom, and not the musician.
Miguel explains he was secretly coordinating a surprise with Carol—a Stradivarius violin as a gift for Mariana. When she sees the beautiful musical instrument, she is initially overjoyed but then furious at Otávio for ruining the evening with his accusations. Miguel further announces he’s secured Mariana a position at the Bariloche Philharmonic and a family apartment. Mariana, angered, lashes out, stating Miguel made these decisions without her input. She criticizes her father for discouraging her musical pursuits and for not supporting her relationship with Miguel since the beginning. She denounces both Héctor and Otávio as selfish fathers who seek to control their children and stop them from pursuing their ambitions as musicians.
She also expresses anger at Miguel for allowing his father to influence his decisions with money, getting overwhelmed by the fact that her lover let his father dictate terms to him and essentially made a convenient deal, ignoring the value of the relationship he shares with her. Mariana declares she’s done with him, stating she only wanted her and Miguel to be equals, making decisions together, and she leaves the hotel in a state of melancholy. Mariana arrives at the airport by taxi, where Miguel awaits her. He acknowledges her freedom to leave but reminds her that she knows him best.
The musician apologizes, expressing his desire to again become the person she fell in love with, admitting he was scared and distracted by the uncertainties of the future. He presents her with the violin case again. Mariana, however, states that the violin case alone won’t earn his forgiveness. Miguel clarifies that he can’t buy her love and urges her to open the case. He explains that although the violin was a gift, the empty case he has given her now symbolizes the life they will build together and share. Mariana observes that the case is too small for their life, to which he responds that no violin case could ever be big enough to contain their love.
Mariana smiles, kisses Miguel, and fully forgives him, leading to their reconciliation. A year later, in Búzios, at a resort near the sea, Mariana and Miguel play the violin as Felipinho and Carol get married. At this point, the two are not yet married to each other, but want to share something else with the two families. They say they are expecting to be parents soon, as Marian is pregnant. The two families celebrate. Whether or not the two will eventually get married is not something explicitly answered in the film; however, it can be presumed that the lovers will definitely get married at some point in the future, after they have achieved greater success in their careers as musicians.
An important clue is revealed during Miguel and Mariana’s conversation with Otávio and Héctor. Miguel has been selected to perform with the esteemed Berlin Philharmonic, recognized as one of the world’s premier orchestras. Concurrently, Mariana presents her father with a plane ticket to Venice, where she will be performing Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” in its city of origin. The two are headed towards greater heights in the music industry, which would pause the wedding plans temporarily. However, once they achieve independence in their professional lives, they will most likely get married because of their deepening bond.
Why Does Mariana Forgive Otávio?
Mariana and her father seem to have a complex relationship, involving differences in their thoughts about Mariana’s future. Otávio makes it difficult for the musician to pursue her interest in music, and also her bond with Miguel. The father-daughter equation always seems to be headed for conflict or misunderstanding. Mariana’s frustration with her dad’s behavior reaches a point of anger when he ruins a nice dinner between the two families due to his wrongful accusation of Miguel. She storms out of the hotel and goes to the airport after ending her relationship with Miguel, claiming that Otávio never supported her and seeks to dominate and control her life.
The two families chaotically reach the airport, frantically searching for Miguel and Mariana. Otávio hilariously causes a stir at the announcement desk by falsely claiming a bomb threat. The two families run towards Miguel and Marian. Otávio begins to apologize to Mariana and says that on the way to Bariloche, she told him that the only thing she wanted from him was to be a dad. He understands the value of Mariana’s words and says that he has been the worst dad, who is possessive, jealous, and selfish. He claims to have turned into a very insecure man after his first wife (Mariana’s mother) passed.
This led him to a scenario where he wanted to get everything done his way and ignored Mariana’s perspectives and wishes. He says he was scared of losing his daughter, and that she has grown into a woman who has helped him understand the value of respecting other people’s opinions. He asks Mariana to forgive him with a very genuine apology. Due to the heartfelt apology, Mariana realizes that her father truly loves her and has understood his own faults. She becomes very emotional and warmly hugs Otávio, forgiving him for his past, and hoping for a happier future.
Read More: Is Almost Family Based on a True Story?
