Daughters

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Daughters

PG-13

Released Aug 9, 2024

1h 42m

Documentary

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70 Reviews

91%

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100+ Ratings

Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C. jail. A generation of youth bare the weight of mass incarceration on their childhoods. These wounds impair development and can last a lifetime. In-person visitation for these families has been systematically shut down across the US since 2014, replaced with video conference apps the families have to pay for. This unique program involves dance, touch and celebration that transcends the prison walls. On the inside, we watch the fathers go through a 12-week Fatherhood Training Program that prepares them for the intensity of the dance and the emotional fallout.

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Critics Consensus

In defiance of an inhumane prison system emerges a tender and touching light for incarcerated fathers to finally hold and dance with their Daughters.

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Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (LAist)

A poignant and beautiful film.

Aug 28, 2024

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Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

I defy anybody not to get teary-eyed.

Aug 28, 2024

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Racial inequities of American culture and the cruelties of the carceral state are never directly addressed in Daughters. They don’t need to be. It’s all right there in the faces of a father and his child seeing each other for the first time.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 23, 2024

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Marissa Hill

Shade Studios

The emotional heart of Daughters lies in how it captures the first moments of reunion between the fathers and daughters, and those moments are so full of weight and anticipation.

Jul 30, 2025

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Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

For the most part the film comes across as a celebration of this moment as a light in the darkness, but it will likely leave some viewers additionally uncomfortable.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 6, 2025

Full Review

Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

Daughters does not tell the audience what these men did that brought them to this jail, but it does look to what comes next for the fathers and the daughters and the power of programs like this one to reform the prison system.

Feb 5, 2025

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dave d

A necessary and impactful documentary feature on the 'Dances with Dad' prison program and how it changes the lives of those involved for the better. It could have easily been condensed by 25-30 minutes, but there are moments that are touching and others that will break you. It is a very tough watch as the viewer is thrown into the times of the inmates and the children. An important film. Final Score: 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

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Valerii Ege D

Daughters gains its full meaning through the statistic revealed at the end of the documentary. In a world where most former inmates end up back in prison, it gently highlights the profound importance of building family bonds.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/25

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Chandra G

As I watched this movie about fathers and daughters in a particularly challenging situation, I realized the extremity of their circumstances reveals the essence of what all fathers mean to their daughters, and vice versa, and how resilient and precious that bond is. It's also commentary on the awesome responsibility of parenthood. These men can't provide resources or even proximity and yet their girls love and need them for who they are. An absolutely beautiful and essential message. Documentary film-making at its best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/05/25

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Catie C

Sobbed for so much of this movie. It was so impactful and emotionally informative. Highly recco.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/24/24

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Tee C

This documentary is so inspirational and heartwarming. The dance scene is filled with raw emotions. I love this for all the little girls who want a special connection with their dads. I recommended it to all my Facebook followers:)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/25/24

Full Review

Michael Shane B

Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. This story could explore the emotional journey of these girls and their fathers as they anticipate the dance. How do they express their joy and love for their fathers? What are their hopes and dreams for the dance? How do they feel about being able to spend this special time with their daughters? What challenges do they face in their incarceration that might affect their emotions? How does incarceration impact these relationships? What are the unique challenges and rewards of being a father in prison? How does the program help to strengthen these father-daughter relationships? What other benefits does the program provide to the incarcerated fathers and their families?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

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Angela Patton

Director

Natalie Rae

Director

Natalie Rae

Producer

Lisa Mazzotta

Producer

Justin Benoliel

Producer

Mindy Goldberg

Producer

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Synopsis

Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C. jail. A generation of youth bare the weight of mass incarceration on their childhoods. These wounds impair development and can last a lifetime. In-person visitation for these families has been systematically shut down across the US since 2014, replaced with video conference apps the families have to pay for. This unique program involves dance, touch and celebration that transcends the prison walls. On the inside, we watch the fathers go through a 12-week Fatherhood Training Program that prepares them for the intensity of the dance and the emotional fallout.

Director: Angela Patton, Natalie Rae
Producer: Natalie Rae, Lisa Mazzotta, Justin Benoliel, Mindy Goldberg, Sam Bisbee, Kathryn Everett, Laura Choi, James Cunningham
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Object & Animal, Epoch Films, Park Pictures, OPC, XTR
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 14, 2024
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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