Sometimes, you just can't get away from your family.

No matter what events occur in life, most people remain in an unremitting bond with their family members, whether bitter or pleasant, memorable or commonplace.

With that in mind, it seems very unlikely that writer and director Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno could be an only child - her story in "Little Kings," about the lives of three brothers in New Jersey, is too involved, and too well-versed, to be written by someone unfamiliar with sibling relationships.

In Tibaldo-Bongiorno's film, each brother is struggling with his interpersonal relationships -Dom (Dominic Pace) is in love with his brother Gino's pregnant wife, Lori, played by Rita Pietropinto. Gino (Mark Giordano), a construction manager, appears too busy having an affair with his attorney to notice Dom's affections. The third brother, Johnny (Johnny Giacalone), has fallen in love with his cousin, Carlee.

This curious drama is entirely compelling - and frustrating - to watch.

Giordano plays the cheating, vindictive Gino in a way that makes his character come off completely detestable in every scene. He's so awful that during his anniversary party with wife Lori, he leaves to have sex with his mistress - and celebrate a three-month anniversary with her.

Despite this, Tibaldo-Bongiorno maintains a bittersweet sort of reality -Gino isn't saved from being hurt, even when it seems impossible for him to feel anything. Likewise, although Dom frequently expresses his distaste for Gino's behavior, and almost appears to hate Gino, their link of brotherhood keeps them together throughout the film.

The relationship Johnny has with his cousin Carlee (Robin Paul), comes off as a side to the main plot of the film.

Tibaldo-Bongiorno might have included this situation to diffuse the dramatic elements present in Gino's affair. Despite this, even the lightest comedic scenes are doused with drama.

For example, when Carlee's father -Johnny's uncle - discovers the two young lovebirds making out in the laundry room, he's so enraged that he chases Johnny to the roof of the house. Normally, in a comedy, a scene like this would arouse nothing more than a laugh or two. In "Little Kings," you're instead struck by the oddity of the scene -Johnny and Carlee are certainly engaging in incest, for one, and their extended family dynamic will surely be forever altered.

Another rather dark subplot occurs when Dom, a teacher, is seduced by Courtney, one of his students.

Initially, you aren't exactly sure why Tibaldo-Bongiorno would include this in the film. For one thing, Dom is already planning to make a move on his brother's wife. It takes until the end of the film to realize what purpose Courtney (Tessa Ghylin) has in the film, when Tibaldo-Bongiorno ties the loose pieces of the plot together.

Perhaps because it contains this rather awkward, twisted plot, "Little Kings" keeps you watching all the way until the end.

The East Lansing Film Festival will debut "Little Kings" at 9 p.m. Saturday in Wells Hall.