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In 51 Birch Street, one of the most highly praised personal documentaries of recent years, director Doug Block took a hard look at his parents’ marriage and his own relationship with his father. Now Block turns in the other direction, offering an exceptionally moving film about his relationship with his only child, Lucy.
The Kids Grow Up chronicles Lucy’s emotionally-fraught last year at home before leaving for college. Moving seamlessly between past, present, and the fast-approaching future, Block has not only crafted a loving portrait of a girl transitioning into womanhood, but also a deeply poignant look at parenting and what it means to let go.
This time of transition comes with its fair share of struggles. To his credit, Block does not shy away from these moments, nor from the humorous yet occasionally tough analysis his wife offers. The result is a personal story told with such honesty and intimacy that a singular experience unfolds into a universal tale of parenthood, marriage, and family— making this a film that fathers, mothers, sons and daughters can equally appreciate.
Brattle Theatre (click here to buy tickets)
Official Selection: IDFA, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Hot Docs, Silverdocs, Stranger Than Fiction, Sarasota
Winner: Special Jury Prize, Silverdocs
Reviews:
“Remarkable…a chronicle of ordinary life that is partly a scrapbook, partly a memoir and, most movingly, an essay on the passage of time and the mysterious connection between parents and children.” — A.O. Scott, THE NEW YORK TIMES
“Intimate, funny, deeply affecting; The Kids Grow Up exemplifies personal filmmaking at its most truthful and absorbing. It’s wonderful.”
— Ann Hornaday, WASHINGTON POST
“Pitch-perfect and frequently comic.” – Anne S. Lewis – The Austin Chronicle
“What [Block] has been able to do so brilliantly with both “51 Birch Street” and “The Kids Grow Up” is take personal subject matter and present it in a manner that is dramatic and universal.” – Seth Shire, The Unpaid Film Critic
“One of the best non-fiction films of the year.”- John P. McCarthy, Boxoffice Magazine
“Intimate…distinct…complicated and surprising.” – Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
DocYard: The Kids Grow Up Q&A from The DocYard on Vimeo.
The DocYard is an award-winning film and discussion series at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, and which also sponsors special screenings and co-presentations throughout the year. Each screening is a new experience as we connect audiences directly with filmmakers exploring the documentary form through insightful post-screening discussions.
