Relative

Every family has skeletons in their closet. Unfortunately ignoring some of those skeletons cause irreparable damage that can create more, or damage others beyond repair. This courageous and honest look into one family's closet is heartbreaking and yet so healing!

The conversations that were had in this film busts those closet doors open, exposes truths long left for dead but are so necessary to help in the healing process.

Children are so often isolated, threatened, told no one will ever believe or love them that they carry those comments, believe them and sometimes don't understand why because they disassociate from the world.

This heartbreaking film is worth the watch. It's a step forward on a healing path and a peek into past generations reasons for locking those skeletons away. Bust down those doors! Speak Up and Loud if you are or were abused. Seek help.

While I always find myself lost in immeasurable awe and overwhelming joy after experiencing yet another miracle in my life, sometimes I also find healing and growth. Coming upon "Relative" and having such a connection to the story changed how I process my most significant, however my most minor, incident of sexual abuse. Because the abuse wasn't violent, wasn't ongoing and didn't go to the extremes that many, many other little girls have endured, I felt hesitant to claim it. I really almost felt guilt and shame to even speak it out as abuse. But it was at the hand of the greatest man I have ever known, the most wonderful man ever, my hero, my daddy. I've carried this with me ever since and watching this film was therapy for me. Free therapy for a change and I am eternally grateful for the healing and new perspective it has given me, as well as a new friend Once again, I am filled with gratitude for something that just falls into place, like coming across a film that changes shape of something ugly I have been carrying deep inside for 40 years into something I can carry without shame and hopefully be able to share with others. This one thing, I believe, is all that matters in this world. Looks like someone else does also and I thank her for putting herself and her entire family out there to help the rest of us.

This film, while difficult to watch at times because of subject matter, is needed. It depicted the complex layers that truth tellers/change makers face after being honest with their family about their trauma. Seeing the effects of patriarchy and sexual abuse on this Italian-Americans hit close to home. The relationship with the older generations, and hearing them speak their truths for the first time was tremendous. This film was well-done and ended in an unexpected way that will stay with me. This film makes me wish I could sit with the older generations of my family and ask the hard questions. It also inspires me to have open, deep dialogue with my three daughters, my nieces and nephews, my friend's children on sexual safety. Tracy's bravery inspires me to be brave.

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.

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.