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The Brainwashing of My Dad

  • 2015
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Poster illustration by Bill Plympton
Trailer for The Brainwashing of My Dad
Play trailer1:44
5 Videos
2 Photos
Documentary

After her dad shifts his politics from left to right, his daughter tries to understand what happened.After her dad shifts his politics from left to right, his daughter tries to understand what happened.After her dad shifts his politics from left to right, his daughter tries to understand what happened.

  • Director
    • Jen Senko
  • Writers
    • Melodie Bryant
    • Fiore DeRosa
    • Kala Mandrake
  • Stars
    • Glenn Beck
    • Eric Boehlert
    • David Brock
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jen Senko
    • Writers
      • Melodie Bryant
      • Fiore DeRosa
      • Kala Mandrake
    • Stars
      • Glenn Beck
      • Eric Boehlert
      • David Brock
    • 27User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos5

    The Brainwashing of My Dad
    Trailer 1:44
    The Brainwashing of My Dad
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: The Liberal Media
    Clip 1:18
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: The Liberal Media
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: The Liberal Media
    Clip 1:18
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: The Liberal Media
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: How Did This Happen?
    Clip 1:20
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: How Did This Happen?
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: Fox Effect
    Clip 1:58
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: Fox Effect
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: Language Is Not Neutral
    Clip 1:41
    The Brainwashing Of My Dad: Language Is Not Neutral

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast20

    Edit
    Glenn Beck
    Glenn Beck
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Eric Boehlert
    Eric Boehlert
    • Self
    David Brock
    David Brock
    • Self
    Noam Chomsky
    Noam Chomsky
    • Self
    Jeff Cohen
    • Self
    Claire Conner
    • Self
    Sean Hannity
    Sean Hannity
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Thom Hartmann
    Thom Hartmann
    • Self
    Edward S. Herman
    • Self
    Rush Limbaugh
    Rush Limbaugh
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Frank Luntz
    Frank Luntz
    • Self
    Bill Maher
    Bill Maher
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Matthew Modine
    Matthew Modine
    • Narrator
    Bill O'Reilly
    Bill O'Reilly
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Jeanine Pirro
    Jeanine Pirro
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Steve Rendall
    • Self
    Matthew Saccaro
    • Self
    Frank Senko
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Jen Senko
    • Writers
      • Melodie Bryant
      • Fiore DeRosa
      • Kala Mandrake
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    7.01.6K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    6Uriah43

    Brings to Light a Definite Problem Here in America

    This documentary explores the impact that the right-wing media has had upon American politics and culture with one particular family being showcased in detail. In essence, due to certain restraints being removed from radio and television broadcasting, a newly energized brand of conservative populism was unleashed-first on talk radio, and then on television with Fox News. To that effect, the more heated dialogue resulted in more anger among the viewers which in turn caused even more heated dialogue and thereby even more anger. This divisiveness was then used by the Republican Party to secure gains in the elections at both the local, state and national level which has resulted in policy initiatives intended to benefit that particular party to the exclusion of everybody else. Now rather than revealing any more I will just say that the main points brought out in this documentary are factually correct--as is the damage brought upon this nation because of the resulting bitterness, anger and hatred. Unfortunately, although this film reveals several problems the right-wing media has created, what it fails to do is to provide an answer to any of them. Along with that, there were times when the overall theme seemed to lose focus as it drifted from one family dynamic to another. Likewise, I also thought that the childish tone on the part of the narrator was completely unnecessary as well. In any case, while certainly not a top-level documentary, this film does a good job of bringing to light a definite problem here in America and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
    10fcausey-2

    Film lays bare Fox News

    As she did in THE VANISHING CITY, Jen has delivered another great feature documentary film that is timely, smart, cogent, and incredibly thoughtful. THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD is an important film that all Americans should see so they can understand the intentional manipulation of their minds by the free market ideologues who bought media outlets right and left to masquerade their so-called cause as patriotic, intentionally playing on the patriotism of well intentioned folks like Jen's father. FOX NEWS was never conceived as a real news organization dedicated to informing the public. Instead FOX NEWS was born out of an abundance of cynicism, and as nothing more than a shill machine for those bent on seeking monolithic political power and the insane profits, their real aim, that result. All of this at the expense of the rest of us.
    10savvysound

    The Personal is the Political

    The personal story of filmmaker Jen Senko's dad is a cautionary tale many of us can relate to. And it's directly related - we learn - to the disinformation coming from the Right Wing media that has driven so much political acrimony in this country. In fact, the fanatical political divisions in the US are the same ones that divide families on a personal level. By following the thread of American politics and how it relates to the rise of the Right Wing media, Senko builds a solid case. We learn how and why all of this came about.

    There have been other films that examined the subject of the Right Wing Media and its negative effects on democracy, but they tend to be dry treatises.

    This should be required viewing for anyone who cares about a free and informative media in this country. An important film. And an entertaining one!
    9trez1

    The visible and invisible manipulations of the right wing media machine

    This film should be required viewing for all U.S. voters for they will understand just how insidious, wide ranging and effective the right wing media machine (e.g., Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, conservative talk radio etc.)has been on the cultural landscape for the past 20 years.

    Beyond the expected debunking of what we know is a sham -- Fox New's "Fair and Balanced" misreporting and Limbaugh's outlandish comments -- Ms. Senko's film takes us beyond the dictated talking points of Fox President's Roger Ailes to something much deeper and chilling.

    The skill of these propagandists and their toxic effect on ordinary citizens (as seen through the lens of her own father) is an eye opener. The ending was especially moving. See it for yourself.
    7BrandonTunechi

    Accurate

    A fantastic and accurate representation of how it feels to be a family member of someone who has become brainwashed and a worse human-being due to right-wing propaganda. The personal story hit home for me, while the facts presented are undeniable. The other people in the comments that voted it 1/10 are clearly still brainwashed, despite this fantastic documentary showing very clearly what is actually happening to them - which poses the question of: did they even watch it? I doubt it.

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    FAQ17

    • How long is The Brainwashing of My Dad?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 18, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Lavagem Cerebral do Meu Pai
    • Production company
      • Cinco Dedos Peliculas
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $200,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,028
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,028
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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