The intimate POV of family documentary

Every year there are a number of fantastic documentaries that deal with personal family issues, from such an intimate perspective they seem like incredibly dramatic home movies. The Sundance FF even had a small section for these types of family dramas a few years ago, yet they don’t break these out this way any more. Probably the most successful of this type of film was Jonathan Colette’s TARNATION which was famously edited on a home computer and became one of the most highly praised documentary films of the decade.

The spectacular epic stories that come out of these modest perspectives seem to ebb and flow over the years, last year there was a relative dearth of these family drama documentaries, with notable exceptions. This year however there has seemed to be an explosion of films being discovered that are either made from within a small family or with such access as to feel internal. And these documentaries all have emotionally expansive impacts even if their scope never extends beyond the small towns they are set-in.

One possible reason for the increased visibility of these types of documentaries might be the success of documentary film festival in the US. These are the types of films which do not have easily marketable appeal but once you get an audience to view them, the have the potential to become word of mouth smash hits. And there are a number of “smaller” documentary festivals in this country, which have really seen tremendous success in the last few years. The top three festivals that come to mind and have been championing these films are Silverdocs in Silver Spring Maryland, Full Frame in Durham North Carolina and True/False in Columbus MO. Drawing from these festival and from other corners of the world, these are some of the amazing family drama documentaries:

INTIMACIES OF SHAKESPEARE AND VICTOR HUGO -- A filmmaker uncovers the true tale of her grandmother Rose Elena's friendship with Jorge, the strange, transsexual and perhaps schizophrenic man who rented a room from her. Could Jorge, Rose Elena's close companion, have been responsible for a string of unsolved murders in Mexico City?

PINDORAMA - THE TRUE STORY OF THE SEVEN DWARVES -- A wandering family of performers—all dwarves, all children of a legendary Brazilian clown—travels the countryside celebrating magic, humanity, happiness and courage. In this award-winning documentary, a team of filmmakers follows this remarkable, enchanting circus as it charms audiences.

PRODIGAL SONS -- This is a family reunion film like no other. It involves two rivals who were once like brothers, and are now like brother and sister and the DNA of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. This film is an unforgettable, moving first-person excursion into family dynamics, identity, gender and the past.

And finally, possibly most strongly to this point, there is:

OF ALL THE THINGS -- In the 1970s, songwriter Dennis Lambert had four songs in the top 100 at once, a feat previously accomplished only by the Beatles. Now retired, and selling real estate, Lambert's discovery of an unlikely cult following—in the Philippines!!—lures him back on tour. This hilarious doc captures every note.