The Guide to the Perfect Family

Martin Dubois hires Pier-Luc, hoping to benefit from being the colleague’s son. Pier-Luc refuses to put in effort and resists pressure. The decision sets the stage for future conflicts and a major contract loss that jeopardizes Martin's career.

Pier-Luc's resistance to workload leads to the mishandling of a major contract, costing the company a significant opportunity. The incident triggers consequences for Martin's standing at work and shakes trust within the team. The tension between the two workers foreshadows further fallout.

Martin emphasizes that Rose must excel in Grade 11, juggling dance, hockey, and tutoring. He warns that failure could limit her future opportunities and stability. The relentless pressure begins to weigh on Rose over time.

Feeling overwhelmed, Rose begins using and trading drugs for past exam papers. Her coping strategy reflects the damaging impact of constant parental pressure on a teenager. The behavior signals the fragility of their fragile family balance.

As final exams approach, Martin suggests a weekend trip to visit Rose's grandparents to reconnect. The trip is framed as a pause from the mounting stress, but it also foreshadows turning points in their relationship. The plan brings the family into the countryside for a brief interlude.

In the woods near a lake, father and daughter try to reconnect, but a conflict erupts. Rose expresses that she never feels she lives up to his aspirations. The tension exposes the growing rift between them.

Upon returning to the city, Rose moves to live with her mother Caroline. The shift changes the immediate dynamics of the family. Both women confront the distance that has grown between them.

During a mother-daughter evening, Rose accesses her final exams online, drinks a bottle of wine, and takes pills from a cupboard. Caroline discovers her daughter's state and they realize they need urgent help. The night marks a turning point in their relationship and health concerns.

Caroline calls an ambulance and Rose is rushed to the hospital. She pulls through, and the event becomes a catalyst for renewed dialogue between Rose and her father. The experience exposes the fragility of their family ties.

Shortly after the hospital, Rose and Martin apologize to each other and begin to rebuild their relationship. Rose goes back home with him, signaling a tentative path toward stability. The reconciliation feels fragile but real.

At a park for ice cream, the family enjoys a moment of ordinary happiness. Mathis trips and falls on the swings, and Martin moves to help. Rose stops him from intervening, insisting that their younger brother should learn from his own mistakes.

The family moment reveals unresolved tensions, with Rose's insistence on controlling outcomes continuing to challenge Martin's authority. The scene closes on a cautious, uneasy equilibrium as they move forward together.