Gosford Park

In 1932, Gosford Manor is the setting for a weekend gathering of the extended McCordell family, along with their servants. At the heart of the story is William McCordell, the patriarch whose life is intertwined with a web of familial tensions and intrigues. When he is found murdered, a host of suspects emerges, each with their own motives. In Gosford Manor, Robert Altman deftly subverts the conventions of the period drama genre, blending sharp wit and dark humor while exploring the age-old myth of Oedipus—or more broadly, the complex bond between parent and child. Bolstered by a stellar cast and a brilliant script from Julian Plows, who would go on to write Downton Abbey, the film is a true masterpiece.