The latest emotional documentary, “Daughters,” from Netflix, is a unique storytelling experience. Directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, the film provides an intimate look into the lives of Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and a’Ana over eight years. The documentary captures their journey as they prepare for a heartwarming Daddy-Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers.
Throughout the film, the girls candidly share their aspirations, dreams, and the profound emotional impact of their father’s absence, exacerbated by the challenges of virtual visits. Their resilience and wisdom beyond their years shine as they navigate through feelings of heartbreak, anger, and uncertainty. “Daughters” illuminates the complexities of familial bonds affected by the harsh barriers of the criminal justice system and underscores the significance of family unity in fostering community healing.
As we meet the girls, some of whom have harsher realities than others. The documentary doesn’t hold back from letting these girls share their feelings. I commend the filmmakers for using the angle they did, as it helps with the realism of the situation when we see their incarnated fathers. The filmmakers make the wise choice to never reveal what some of the men did and instead choose to focus on the details of the 10-week seminar on responsible parenting for the incarnated that culminates with them treating their daughters to a night on the town in the prison gymnasium with dinner, dancing and photos. Seeing these men come together and help each other out is simply awe-inspiring.
I want to advise potential viewers to have the tissues ready as “Daughters” doesn’t necessarily have a happy end. As the night ends as an audience, we feel all the emotions as the girl leaves their fathers, not knowing when they will see them again. That said, the tears are earned and never forced. While I am a boy dad, “Daughters” is easily one of the best documentaries I’ve seen this year, and I highly recommend it.
Final Grade: A
“Daughters” arrives on Netflix on Wednesday, August 14.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.