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

Once I was 4 years outdated, my mother and father divorced. I did not know all the small print, however I understood that my father would not stay with us. He wasn’t concerned a lot in my life after that; turning 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 habit, which stored him from exhibiting up for my brother and me. After reaching maturity I attempted to succeed in out to him a couple of occasions to re-establish a relationship, however my efforts had been ignored. The final communication I obtained involving my father was a name letting me know he had been discovered useless 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 obstacles for my brother and me, and his encouragement led me to chase my goals of being a author. 

Fatherhood in any type has lasting impression. And that impression will be much more profound when a father reveals 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 principle storyline facilities across the fathers and daughters getting ready for the Daddy Daughter Dance, created by Angela Patton as part of her Ladies For A Change initiative.

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

Since its premiere on the 2024 Sundance Movie Competition, Daughters has not solely obtained reward, however it has additionally sparked necessary conversations about Black fatherhood. The movie received 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 taking part 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, however it’s a must-see for each mum or dad, because it demonstrates the therapeutic energy of affection, the obstacles of Black fatherhood, and the distinction made if you present up to your youngsters.

It is Potential for Connection to Transcend Obstacles

As a father to 3 daughters and a grandfather to at least one, this movie spoke to what has formed my dedication to at all times be there for my youngsters in each approach attainable. 

One of many fundamental themes of the documentary is the necessity for therapeutic in laborious circumstances and the way trauma impacts one’s id and relationships—particularly when it happens in a single’s early life. Within the movie, we see one of many daughters studying to rely so she will be able to observe the variety of days till her dad comes residence.

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

“There is not any denying {that a} lady’s relationship along with her father is likely one of the most important in her life. The standard of that connection—good, broken, or in any other case—powerfully impacts dads and daughters in quite a lot of methods. A father’s impact on his daughter’s psychological well-being and id is far-reaching. A daughter’s sense of self, as an illustration, is commonly related to how her father views her. A lady stands a greater likelihood of turning into a self-confident lady if she has a detailed bond along with her father.”

The fathers in Daughters can discover success of their Black fatherhood by combating to point out up and construct connections, regardless of their earlier life decisions. Packages just like the Daddy Daughter Dance are an necessary avenue to assist foster these connections no matter circumstance.

The Combat Towards Dehumanization Continues

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

The movie introduced out the “human” a part of being human and spoke to the necessity to proceed the combat towards dehumanization that occurs when somebody is incarcerated. We see one instance of that via the jail’s telephone system. The documentary reveals 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 every day lives and their want to be reformed residents.

My delivery father was in jail for a time, however I by no means visited him. My grandfather instructed 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 approach, Daughters helped me to realize a distinct perspective on the daddy I by no means knew. It additionally motivated me to proceed my work as a father of coloration and perceive my duty 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. For those who’re a “woman dad” or a “woman granddad”, this movie may function inspiration and motivation to foster your connection along with your daughter and combat to be of their lives—it doesn’t matter what.