Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

Directed by: Kurt Kuenne
Screenplay by: Kurt Kuenne

Genre: Documentary | Crime | Drama
Running Time: 95 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

[IMDb]

Comments: I finally caved in and signed up for Netflix (streaming only), despite the fact that I have over 2,000 DVDs (many of which are unwatched). While they don't have many new releases, I am particularly impressed with their newer foreign releases, and the massive TV collection that's available. But I signed up basically because I wanted to see three documentaries that I knew were available: Restrepo, Exit Through the Gift Shop, and Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father...

Wow. I have seen a lot of hard-to-watch films over the years, but I'm having a hard time thinking of a movie that's made me so sad yet so nauseatingly sick to my stomach (Requiem for a Dream is the main one I'm thinking of now). In terms of documentaries, it's not particularly the most well-made film I've seen, but goddamn, it packs a fucking punch. Hearing Shirley Turner's recorded voice speaking to Zachary, even without knowing what was to come, was simultaneously chilling and sickening. I certainly recommend this one, but be prepared: it's like watching the worst Dateline special ever (and I mean that in the best way).

So Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father may not be the 'happiest' choice to start out my Netflix obsession (which is what will happen), but I'm thrilled at the films I've added to my instant queue: Dogtooth, Enter the Void, Revanche, and Hanger. If you're wondering why the hell Hanger is included with those films... well, then you just don't know me very well.