Open Secret

This film was a courageous undertaking. Many people wouldn't have been able to face what Steve had done. He looked straight into faces of those who deceived him and asked WHY? His film makes me want to ask the secret keepers of my own family to acknowledge their own pain. Thank you for making this film

If you're looking for good cry this is it. Without spoiling anything, I'll say that the circumstances of the filmmaker's life growing up in rural America are, on one hand, not that unusual or remarkable. But what is remarkable is that he found out he was part of one big lie, and that the entire town was in on it. And it went on for his entire life until he finally left home at 18.

The secret in this film is actually revealed fairly early so don't expect a big reveal at the end or a lot of suspense leading up to the reveal. The story focuses instead on what the truth behind the secret did to the filmmaker, his family and everyone who was in on it. And on how the filmmaker works through the fallout as an adult after deciding to pull back the curtain and confront everyone.

Steve does a great job in detailing a story of exploration, understanding and forgiveness. He also documents the awkwardness and weirdness of his reality. While the main theme relates to Steve's discovery regarding his birth parents, it also touches on relationships, mental illness and how people cope with life altering events. Steve is graceful, thoughtful and forgiving. He leaves you thinking that all can be overcome and bridges can be built and out of disharmony comes harmony and hope. This film is enlightening. Amazing that a difficult story could be so enjoyable.....I highly recommend it, particularly to those whose family dynamics causes them pain and suffering.

I identified with this film on so many levels, as my family history has similar themes to it. Steve was simply seeking the truth about his own history. This history should have been readily accessible, as the people who had the answers to his questions were his immediate family members. Steve had many dilemmas to deal with, as well as family members who were, to say the least, not cooperative. What do you do when honesty and transparency are not qualities that your family embraces? What do you do when getting at the reasons behind why things happened in your life are hidden and just out of reach, simply because the people that you trusted and loved seem to have cooperated in order to keep things from you? It was a very well done film.

This was a great documentary. At times it felt like a mystery, at other times like a drama, and this along with a few more recent documentaries have shredded the stereotype of a documentary as something your dad forced you to watch when you were a good. The subject was a hidden secret, and everything from the atmosphere of a small town, to the reveal was thrilling. We often ask why we are obsessed with secrets, are we who we really think we are? Are our parents and friends the vision we have had of them for years? This is a teaser to a question that our mind will try to touch and at times we will receive answers that surprise us.

I hope this producer will bring us more works like this.