Relative

I thought Relative was a beautifully nuance representation of the vulnerabilities that are so pervasive within families, specifically amongst children and women. It also speaks to the misogyny that is permitted to exist within families. The documentarian kept some privacy in terms of the family and showed what she felt most comfortable with. For so many families, silence is death. But, her willingness and the willingness of her mother, grandmother and great aunts to share pieces of their traumas was what made me feel so connected to this entire family. Her nuanced film gave voice to so many who don't have one. Thank you!

I was moved deeply by this documentary. Powerful. Necessary. It was vulnerable, tasteful, cutting, stirring. It is important to watch, because we need to be aware, discerning, and look out for children and the vulnerable. Tracey spearheaded disclosure, empowering family to participate also. Amazing work. Thank you for making this! Thank you for your courage!

It is amazing to see the abuse by men in situations with a power differential. Where this exists - power differential - there is vulnerability. We need to protect people from themselves (like leaving older kids with younger), and we need to protect people from others.

And what happens when everyone keeps quiet. Avoidance of talking about traumatic events creates a disconnection, leaving the lone person who's willing to speak up feel isolated and disconnected.

If everyone around you is saiyng 'it's no big deal', then part of you will begin to question yourself and wonder if YOU'RE the one making it a big deal.

I congratulate Tracey for being brave enough to confront her family and get them to talk. Especially her mother who, in this film just wants to move on (complete avoidance). Her grandmother and great aunts share more and other family members support Tracey as she moves through her healing with a therapist and the help of her family.

The person who gave this 1 star has cleary never had to deal with this level of trauma. It's hard enough to discuss these things in private but to make a FILM that the whole world can see take a whole other level of fortitude, bravery, and strength. The humiliation you feel when you've been violated can be debilitating. So, please read the 10 star reviews. They are more empathic.

The film Relative is stunning and infused with a sense of intimacy while also being brave and boundaried. I felt such emotions for Tracey's family and appreciation for her work. I do a lot of work with religious trauma and the framework for secrecy feels very similar. People we love and trust and want to honor are often the hardest to confront with health in order to have needed conversations. I was awestruck by the vision and embodiment implied gently through bold and challenging conversations. A sense of honor wells up within the film and dispels secrecy in such a way that anyone can be inspired to move in new patterns with their own family.

The film recounts the filmmakers journey of her own healing process, as she struggles with her experiences and the effects it had on her life after the experiences.

She reaches out to generations of her family and asks them if they had similar experiences in their own lives, and how they struggled with their own aftermath of emotions.

The film is not prurient or sensationalistic in any manner, yet the discussions are frank and sad to watch and listen to as family members are discussed over generations.

Many personal pictures and old home movie clips are interwoven into the film to give historical context to the older women's experiences and contexts.

I'm not a filmmaker or cinematographer so I can't rate the techniques and manner of the video as it's been constructed.

I can say that the video has a powerful visceral effect on me as a Dad with 4 children, now all grown adults, and my hope that none of the things discussed in this film ever happen to my granddaughters.

As Dad, I know what it's like when your child reveals, years after the fact, of experiences discussed in this film that were inflicted by a neighbor's foster child upon my child.

Healing is a long process.

Memories never go away completely.

They're put in a box in our minds so we can live our lives without pain they cause.

I hope this filmmaker continues to make films and that they're shown in streaming services.