Ethel

2012

1h 37m

Documentary

List

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

82%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Filmmaker Rory Kennedy interviews her mother, Ethel Kennedy, who discusses family, marriage and politics.

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Matthew Gilbert

Boston Globe

Kennedy buffs will enjoy Ethel enormously. Others likely will think it's about half an hour too long.

Oct 18, 2012

Full Review

Ed Bark

Uncle Barky

Even with its air-brushing and reticent title subject, Ethel is a watchable, oft-affecting film.

Rated: B

Oct 18, 2012

Full Review

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

A moving, highly enjoyable, thoroughly absorbing portrait.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 4, 2012

Full Review

Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

An attempt to tell one of the lesser-known stories of the Kennedy family, this documentary does its best to allow its subject, Ethel Kennedy, to give us an account of her life in her own words.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 22, 2022

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 5/5

Jan 22, 2013

Full Review

Mark A. Perigard

Boston Herald

While often touching, it's a lightweight addition to HBO's schedule.

Rated: B

Oct 18, 2012

Full Review

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Audience Member

Disclosure. I grew up in MA. I'm conservative but really liked the Kennedy's. Just a wonderful film. Well-paced, lots of video footage, Ethel is terrific. Learned some things I didn't know about the family. Laughed at some things, cried at others. If you are into "gotcha" movies and moments, this is not your movie. If you want salacious details, true or not, watch something else. Felt like we got to look at what life was like for these families. Lots of interview time Ethel and her kids. Interesting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A tad too long, but very touching and insightful, about a dignified woman who'd stood in her glamorous sister in-law's shadow. Annoying: the constant references throughout the documentary, to "Mummy" and "Daddy" by the adult children of Bobby & Ethel. ("Mummy and Daddy"? Really?)

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great documentary about the widow of Robert Kennedy who raised 11 children after his death. Filmed by their youngest child who was born 6 months after her father's death. It is an interesting film which intercuts old footage with interviews of the now 85 year old Ethel and the surviving children. Shines a nice light on the reserved widow.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very interesting, and partly moving, documentary of Ethel Kennedy, wife of assassinated Robert Kennedy and directed by Rory Kennedy, their youngest daughter! Includes a lot of private home videos and a very rare and candid interview with Ethel Kennedy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A beautiful tribute to a wonderful person, wife, and mother.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A documentary about bobby Kennedy's wife, an there was a lot of new info for this history buff. She seems like a dynamite lady and I had never heard of her before.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

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Rory Kennedy

Director

Mark Bailey

Writer

Rory Kennedy

Producer

Jack Youngelson

Producer

Sheila Nevins

Executive Producer

Buddy Squires

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Rory Kennedy interviews her mother, Ethel Kennedy, who discusses family, marriage and politics.

Director: Rory Kennedy
Producer: Rory Kennedy, Jack Youngelson
Screenwriter: Mark Bailey
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2021
Runtime: 1h 37m

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