Although its plot begins with a jarring tragedy, Imaginary Heroes finds its dramatic footing in the complex and all-too-familiar relationships of families. Sigourney Weaver plays Sandy, a wife and mother who, following the suicide of her eldest son, is forced to examine the fractures that have estranged her from her husband (Jeff Daniels) and have distanced her from her surviving teenage son (Emile Hirsch). Using a healthy dose of black humor, the three find that, in order to endure the shock, they must abandon their solitary existences and begin relying on each other.

As you might expect for such an emotional story, the DVD's Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is mostly dialogue, with relatively little action in the surround channels. Where the disc really shines is in its high-definition-mastered 2.35:1 anamorphic picture, which boasts warm, muted colors and plenty of detail, even in dark scenes.

The disc's supplementary package demonstrates that extras don't have to be slickly produced to be valuable. The very brief behind-the-scenes featurette manages to pack a ton of information into a brief time, discussing everything from characterization to production design. A commentary track from first-time director Dan Harris accompanies a selection of deleted scenes. Two feature-length tracks—one from Weaver and one from Hirsch and Harris—round out the extras.