‘Daughters’ on Netflix is a Should-Look ahead to ‘Woman Dads’

Once I was 4 years outdated, my dad and mom divorced. I did not know all the main points, however I understood that my father would now not dwell with us. He wasn’t concerned a lot in my life after that; changing into extra of a distant reminiscence with every passing 12 months. Although I nonetheless felt the sting of his absence.

My father battled his demons of drug and alcohol dependancy, which stored him from displaying up for my brother and me. After reaching maturity I attempted to succeed in out to him just a few instances to re-establish a relationship, however my efforts have been ignored. The final communication I acquired involving my father was a name letting me know he had been discovered lifeless in a homeless shelter. 

My grandfather–my father’s dad–was considerably extra concerned in my life, filling the void my father left and fought to be a constant presence in our lives. His actions helped to interrupt limitations for my brother and me, and his encouragement led me to chase my goals of being a author. 

Fatherhood in any kind has lasting influence. And that influence may be much more profound when a father exhibits up for his or her kids, regardless of difficult circumstances. That theme resonates all through the Netflix documentary Daughters. 

About Netflix’s ‘Daughters’

The Netflix documentary movie follows the lives of 4 younger ladies, Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and Ja’Ana, and their Black fathers, who’re incarcerated in a Washington, D.C. jail. The primary storyline facilities across the fathers and daughters making ready for the Daddy Daughter Dance, created by Angela Patton as part of her Women For A Change initiative.

The documentary took eight years to finish and is an element of a bigger program referred to as Date With Dad Weekend, which has existed since 2008.

Since its premiere on the 2024 Sundance Movie Competition, Daughters has not solely acquired reward, nevertheless it has additionally sparked vital conversations about Black fatherhood. The movie gained the Viewers Award: U.S. Documentary and was additionally named the general Competition Favourite at Sundance earlier than being picked up and distributed by Netflix. 

For the daughters collaborating within the Date With Dad Weekend, this would be the solely time they’ll contact or hug their fathers—a few of whom have sentences so long as 20 years.

The documentary is rated PG-13 and has a 1h 48m runtime. It may be a difficult watch, nevertheless it’s a must-see for each mother or father, because it demonstrates the therapeutic energy of affection, the limitations of Black fatherhood, and the distinction made if you present up on your children.

It is Attainable for Connection to Transcend Obstacles

As a father to 3 daughters and a grandfather to 1, this movie spoke to what has formed my dedication to at all times be there for my children in each method attainable. 

One of many primary themes of the documentary is the necessity for therapeutic in onerous circumstances and the way trauma impacts one’s id and relationships—particularly when it happens in a single’s youth. Within the movie, we see one of many daughters studying to rely so she will monitor the variety of days till her dad comes house.

Angela Patton, was quoted speaking concerning the energy of the father-daughter connection and its influence on id:

“There is no denying {that a} lady’s relationship together with her father is among the most important in her life. The standard of that connection—good, broken, or in any other case—powerfully impacts dads and daughters in a wide range of methods. A father’s impact on his daughter’s psychological well-being and id is far-reaching. A daughter’s sense of self, for example, is usually linked to how her father views her. A lady stands a greater probability of changing into a self-confident lady if she has an in depth bond together with her father.”

The fathers in Daughters can discover achievement of their Black fatherhood by preventing to indicate up and construct connections, regardless of their earlier life selections. Packages just like the Daddy Daughter Dance are an vital avenue to assist foster these connections no matter circumstance.

The Battle In opposition to Dehumanization Continues

I cried my method by Daughters however cheered for these males and their daughters, who bought to have this expertise collectively. This system is efficient, with 95% of the boys who take part by no means returning to jail, in accordance with data shared with IndieWire. 

The movie introduced out the “human” a part of being human and spoke to the necessity to proceed the struggle in opposition to dehumanization that occurs when somebody is incarcerated. We see one instance of that by the jail’s telephone system. The documentary exhibits how the charges concerned can negatively have an effect on low-income households. We additionally get a glimpse on the circumstances of those incarcerated males’s day by day lives and their need to be reformed residents.

My delivery father was in jail for a time, however I by no means visited him. My grandfather advised me tales of the circumstances he was in and the way working whereas needing to ask for permission to participate in each a part of his existence was dehumanizing. 

In a method, Daughters helped me to achieve a unique perspective on the daddy I by no means knew. It additionally motivated me to proceed my work as a father of shade and perceive my accountability to be an instance for my ladies.

If you have not seen Daughters, add it to your watchlist and watch it with your loved ones this weekend. When you’re a “woman dad” or a “woman granddad”, this movie may function inspiration and motivation to foster your connection together with your daughter and struggle to be of their lives—it doesn’t matter what.