Relative

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.

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.

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.

I thought Relative was a beautifully nuance representation of the vulnerabilities that are so pervasive within families, specifically amongst children and women. It also speaks to the misogyny that is permitted to exist within families. The documentarian kept some privacy in terms of the family and showed what she felt most comfortable with. For so many families, silence is death. But, her willingness and the willingness of her mother, grandmother and great aunts to share pieces of their traumas was what made me feel so connected to this entire family. Her nuanced film gave voice to so many who don't have one. Thank you!

The film Relative is stunning and infused with a sense of intimacy while also being brave and boundaried. I felt such emotions for Tracey's family and appreciation for her work. I do a lot of work with religious trauma and the framework for secrecy feels very similar. People we love and trust and want to honor are often the hardest to confront with health in order to have needed conversations. I was awestruck by the vision and embodiment implied gently through bold and challenging conversations. A sense of honor wells up within the film and dispels secrecy in such a way that anyone can be inspired to move in new patterns with their own family.