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Family Affair

Play trailer Poster for Family Affair 2010 1h 20m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Chico Colvard interviews family members 30 years after a dirty family secret is revealed. He finds out how his three sisters survived severe abuse at the hands of their father and how they cope as adults.

Critics Reviews

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Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times 11/19/2010
4/5
In a field becoming more crowded by the year, Family Affair emerges as one of its more complex and unsettling examples [of the dysfunctional childhood doc]. Go to Full Review Andrew Schenker Village Voice 11/16/2010
As with other voyeuristic entertainments that insist on making the private public, there's the sense that such matters may be better dealt with in-house -- or in a courtroom -- than writ large on a movie screen. Go to Full Review Lauren Wissot Slant Magazine 08/08/2010
2/4
Hovering safely at the margins, the film's the director seems both fearful and detached. Go to Full Review Ethan Alter NYC Film Critic 11/25/2010
3/4
The [filmmaking] process obviously helped Colvard and his sisters heal in some small way and may have the same effect on certain viewers as well. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Puki F 07/03/2024 Schauspielerische Leistungen miserabel. Handlung einfach nur flach. See more 12/01/2013 Jesus fucking Christ, this is some fucked up shit. See more 07/10/2013 Great film I'm proud of my big cousins for being so brave to tell this story!!! It has been blown off too long. See more 08/01/2010 Family Affair is a fairly similar documentary to "Capturing the Friedmans." The key difference being that in Friedman's there are questions to the guilt of the offender, but in Family Affair, the guilt is laid out on the table. In a way, that is what makes this documentary so hard to watch and equally so compelling. Told from the point of view of the brother of three sister victims of their father, Family Affair is a dark look at what effect abuse can have on the lives and psyche of an entire family. I expect this doc to get a theatrical release this year, especially with Oprah on its side. See more 07/30/2010 One of the most powerful and smart films I've seen this year. Certainly the most provocative and insightful on the subject of family secrets, which we all seem to have. A deeply moving account of forgiveness and courage. I don't know if it will win an Oscar, but certainly worthy of consideration. I found this trailer at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmwpUliD0oE See more 05/03/2010 Easily my favorite documentary from this year's Independent Film Festival of Boston. A raw, real portrait of a family's ugly secret which was brought out into the open when the only male child of a family of four shot his sister accidentally while playing with his father's rifle. Unlike 2004's "Tarnation", there are no frills here, interview after interview unfolds the inner feelings of every member of the house, from the abusive father to the children and their estranged mother. An uncompromised heartbreaking look at the ugliest of moments and attitudes of a family that is forever damaged but still functioning. See more Read all reviews
Family Affair

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Cast & Crew

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Chico Colvard

Director

Chico Colvard

Screenwriter

Chico Colvard

Producer

Liz Garbus

Producer

Chico Colvard

Cinematographer
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Family Affair

Family Affair (2010) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Chico Colvard interviews family members 30 years after a dirty family secret is revealed. He finds out how his three sisters survived severe abuse at the hands of their father and how they cope as adults.
Director
Chico Colvard
Producer
Chico Colvard, Liz Garbus
Screenwriter
Chico Colvard
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 7, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 9, 2014
Runtime
1h 20m