Tell Them Who You Are
Tell Them Who You Are

Tell Them Who You Are

2004Movie95 minEnglish

The son of acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler confronts his complex father by turning the camera on him. What results is a portrait of a difficult genius and a son's path out of the shadow of a famous father.

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IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes83%
Metacritic68/100
Google Users88%
Director: Mark WexlerGenres: Documentary

Plot Summary

This documentary delves into the complex and often fraught relationship between filmmaker Mark Wexler and his father, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Richard Wexler. Through interviews with family members, friends, and former patients, the film explores Dr. Wexler's personal struggles with addiction and his impact on those closest to him, while Mark grapples with his own difficult upbringing and the desire to understand his father.

Critical Reception

Tell Them Who You Are received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its raw honesty and intimate portrayal of a complicated family dynamic. The film was lauded for its courage in exploring difficult personal territory and for offering a nuanced look at the intersection of a parent's public persona and private struggles. Audiences found it a compelling and often heartbreaking examination of family, addiction, and forgiveness.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unflinching honesty and emotional depth.
  • Hailed as a brave and insightful look into a complex father-son relationship.
  • The film's exploration of addiction and its effects is particularly compelling.

Google audience: Google users frequently commended the documentary's raw emotional power and its insightful portrayal of family dynamics. Many appreciated the candid nature of the film and found it to be a deeply moving and relatable experience, with particular praise for its exploration of difficult truths.

Fun Fact

Director Mark Wexler served as both the filmmaker and a subject in the documentary, capturing his personal journey of confronting his father's legacy.

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