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Tell Them Who You Are

Play trailer Poster for Tell Them Who You Are R 2005 1h 33m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Haskell Wexler has proven to be a prolific and distinguished cinematographer, having shot more than 60 films in his storied career and winning Oscars for his work on "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "Bound for Glory." He's been an inspiration to many aspiring filmmakers, including his son, Mark Wexler, a documentarian whose films often focus on himself. Here, Mark concentrates on his acclaimed but enigmatic father, hoping to connect with him while establishing an identity of his own.
Tell Them Who You Are

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The dysfunctional interaction between director and subject is fascinating, poignant, and revealing of both men and of father-son relationships in general.

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Critics Reviews

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Christy Lemire Associated Press 03/06/2007
It works as a portrait of a father-son relationship that's awkward, volatile, uneven and always painfully real. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Empire Magazine 06/02/2006
3/5
A desperately sad look at two men whose determination to rebel against their heritage and succeed in their artform has rendered them unable to communicate. Compelling stuff, though. Go to Full Review Matthew Leyland BBC.com 05/30/2006
4/5
With dad calling junior's filmmaking skills into question at every turn, this is a fascinating blend of fact and friction. Go to Full Review Robert Davis Paste Magazine 06/05/2008
4/5
Tell Them Who You Are radiates dignity, the unusual warmth given off by the frustration of trying to know someone. Go to Full Review Jason Gorber Film Scouts 06/21/2007
A
It's a remarkable documentary, thoroughly enjoyable and one of the most powerful films I've seen in quite some time. Go to Full Review Robert W. Butler Kansas City Star 07/28/2006
3.5/4
In the end this is a great movie about a filmmaker. It's also a great movie about fathers and sons. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Geke g 08/20/2024 One great movie i ve ever experienced in 5 years See more 08/20/2024 Great movie that shows the reality and facts about filmmaking as a hobby See more erdene c 07/28/2024 Amazing movie must watch it again See more Bahad j 07/27/2024 This idea of ​​the film shooting technique director made the film more attractive to people.NC2 See more walter m @Harlequin68 02/22/2013 For the record, I believe that family members should never be involved in recording the life stories of loved ones due to the combination of distance and past closeness which can lead to a skewed perspective and usually involves at least one person with an axe to grind or deep-seated issues. Case in point with the latter is the documentary "Tell Them Who You Are" wherein Mark Wexler attempts to document the career of his father, Haskell, the famed cinematographer. That's the case until Haskell hijacks the proceedings to make it more about him as a person, leaving whatever footage in which would normally be cut and vice versa, as Mark forgets that the first rule of the documentarian is to stay behind the camera as much as humanly possible. Admittedly, there is some great stuff here about "Medium Cool," with a neat anecdote about "Coming Home." And some of Haskell's lesser known movies like "Latino" and "Introduction to the Enemy" definitely sound intriguing. But getting back to those issues, the documentary seeks to portray Haskell as irascible and whose left wing politics which did not stop him from working with Elia Kazan stopped him from accomplishing much more in a career full of accomplishments.(At the age of 87, apparently he is still working.) Personally, any discussion of paternal issues by the participants only serve to make me feel well-adjusted which is quite the accomplishment. Look, I am not saying we should venerate all artists or gloss over their shortcomings. It's just that I don't care. See more 12/22/2011 Fascinating (and unconventional for the subject matter) but hardly the best-made doc. See more Read all reviews
Tell Them Who You Are

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Cast & Crew

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Mark Wexler

Director

Julia Roberts

Self

Paul Newman

Self

Peter Bart

Self

Verna Bloom

Self

Billy Crystal

Self

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Tell Them Who You Are

A scene from the film TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE directed by Mark Wexler. A scene from the film TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE directed by Mark Wexler. A scene from the film TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE directed by Mark Wexler. A scene from the film TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE directed by Mark Wexler. A scene from the film TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE directed by Mark Wexler. A scene from the film TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE directed by Mark Wexler. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Haskell Wexler has proven to be a prolific and distinguished cinematographer, having shot more than 60 films in his storied career and winning Oscars for his work on "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "Bound for Glory." He's been an inspiration to many aspiring filmmakers, including his son, Mark Wexler, a documentarian whose films often focus on himself. Here, Mark concentrates on his acclaimed but enigmatic father, hoping to connect with him while establishing an identity of his own.
Director
Mark Wexler
Producer
Mark Wexler
Screenwriter
Mark Wexler, Robert DeMaio
Distributor
ThinkFilm
Production Co
Wexler's World
Rating
R (Language|Some Sexual Images)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 13, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 10, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$38.6K
Runtime
1h 33m