‘Relative’: Three eventful days shake up a Chicago family in well-written, witty drama

When Karen (Wendy Robie, left) and David (Francis Guinan) host a graduation party for son Benji (Cameron Scott Roberts, right), he brings Hekla (Elizabeth Stam), a woman he just met, as his date in “Relative.” (Newcity/Chicago Film Project)

Some movies just have that instant and intangible but undeniable “lived-in” feeling. It’s as if we’re parachuting in on the lives of the main characters — lives that existed before we had the privilege of checking in on these people, lives that will extend far beyond the brief amount of time we share with them.

“Relative” is just such a film.