Sandy Travis and her husband, Ben, seem to have the perfect life: A nice home, great neighborhood and three smart and handsome teenagers. One of the children, Matt, is an aspiring Olympic swimmer, and their daughter, Penny, is off at college. Youngest child Tim, in his last year at high school, never seems to get it right. He is the black sheep of the family.

“Imaginary Heroes” is a new film written and directed by Dan Harris, starring Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels as the Travises. Harris, one of the co-writers of the blockbuster “X2: X-Men United,” says he has always been interested in what’s underneath a person’s shell.

This is the premise of "Imaginary Heroes." In one brief moment, Matt (Kip Pardue) takes his life, and the family's calm facade is shattered without warning. His death is the catalyst that reveals other mistakes and secrets long held by the family.

Many of today’s films treat audiences as though they are brainless, often giving the audience everything in the plot, subplot, and giving away every scene. Harris trusts the audience to interpret events as they see fit, offering each scene set almost in the form of a question, but leaving it to each viewer to decide the outcome on their own.

In one scene Tim (Emile Hirsch) and his friend go to a New Year’s Eve party, and during the course of the night, they have a few beers along with a tab of Ecstasy. They leave the party, returning to the friend’s house. It’s nearly midnight and the director cuts to the party scene where everyone is counting down and coming in for the big kiss.

He then cuts back to Tim and his friend, standing face to face, and they kiss. Harris cuts to the two boys, lying together in bed, forgoing the typically overwrought love scene.

This makes for interesting viewing, but in the places where viewers can actually twist and turn the events to their own liking, it may seem more like a Greek tragedy or series of unfortunate events to some viewers. However, the cast, with their strong performances is able to pull off each event, tying all the loose ends neatly together.

Weaver, who is known for strong female roles, is no slacker here. She carries on through each crisis that confronts the family following the tragedy, and finally reveals the dark secret she has kept for 18 years.

Daniels, who has a long history in film and stage, is the ultimate grieving father. His hero was Matt. One night at the dinner table he tells the rest of the family that “(Matt) was the only good thing about this family.”He insists that food will continue to be served at his place at the family table where “he will be remembered.”

Although he is physically present, Ben completely detaches from his family, his eyes glazed over as he stares off into the distance. This mask of grief makes his suffering completely believable, so palpable that you feel it as you watch him wither bit by bit onscreen.

Hirsch, last seen in the comedy “The Girl Next Door,” gives a stellar performance as the brother left behind, who questions where he fits in, feeling as though he is an outsider to his family and doesn't belong. Although he may be right, there may still be redemption for the son who has always been viewed as the failure in his father's eyes.

This film presents the viewer with an opportunity to examine their own life, their own hiding, and the chance to break down the barrier and get to the heart of the matter, and then choose the outcome.

Imaginary Heroes opens in select theaters on Feb. 18.