Nuclear Family

This documentary tells the story of a family nearly torn apart. The filmmaker, also the main character, tells the tale with grace and intelligence. It's moving and compelling and is well worth a watch.

I got through the straightforward backstory episodes 1 and 2, swayed by the documentarian, who was the child at the center of this custody battle (and an accomplished episodic tv director in her own right), to feel a certain way towards the parties involved. But episode 3 turns the whole event and fallout on its head, adds a completely new perspective, and changes the way you see this story, and possibly your feelings toward the different parties involved. I remember this story from my teenage years. But I only ever saw the quick news stories and maybe a few talk show appearances with the mothers and the daughter in the middle of it all. This documentary adds context and perspective. It also shows that winning a custody battle can be a tragically pyrrhic victory. I recommend this series as a whole.

We need to hear Tom's side of the story. I feel this series is too one sided in regards to Tom's defense. I feel like he is also a sperm donor in that he's anonymous.

"Nuclear Family" (2021 release; 3 episodes of about 60 min each) is a documentary mini-series. As Episode 1 opens, Sandra Russo and Robin Young introduce themselves: "I'm your mother", Russo says to the interviewer (and director) Ry Russo-Young. "And I'm your mother too", adds Young. We then go back in time to 1979, as these ladies retell how they met and fell heads over heels for each other and very soon moved in together. Through two sperm donors, each of them has a baby girl. The sperm donors agree to waive all rights (and obligations)... At this point we are 10 min into the opening episode.

Couple of comments: this is the latest film from Ry Russo-Young ("Before I Fall", "The Sun Is Also a Star"). Here she examines her own life and background, being raised by two moms in the early 80s when that was anything but normal/accepted, even in New York. Both sperm donors are in California, and gave up all parenting and visitation rights, but as luck would have it, they are both on great terms with Russo and Young, and in particular Tom (biological father of Ry) develops strong a strong bond with Ry. What could possibly go wrong? This in turn leads to the question: who/what constitutes a family? Obviously the film maker has unfettered access to her moms, and the series (or at least Episode 1) plays out mostly from that perspective. I can't wait to see the remaining two episodes.

"Nuclear family" premiered last Sunday on HBO and Episode 1 is now available on HBO on Demand, HBO Max and other streaming platforms. New episodes air on Sunday evenings at 10 pm Eastern time. If you have any interest in LGTBQ and related social issues, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

This three part disjointed series dealt with custody issues between a gay male donor and a lesbian couple who raised the child. The donor was selected by the lesbian couple as he was a good friend, nice looking and extremely bright. Once he decided to sue for partial custody all hell broke loose. I was initially sympathetic to the women, but grew to feel compassion for the father who, in my opinion, was treated shabbily. Whatever, this documentary, done by the child in question (now an adult) could have been done a whole lot better.