Mike and Mina Block, 1965
from 51 Birch Street

It was back in May, while I was D.C., that I went to the theatre to see the documentary 51 Birch Street (2005).

Documentary filmmaker Doug Block had every reason to believe his parents’ 54-year marriage was a good one. But when his mother dies unexpectedly and his father swiftly marries his former secretary, he discovers two parents who are far more complex and troubled than he ever imagined. 51 Birch Street is a riveting personal documentary that explores a universal human question: how much about your parents do you really want to know?

While watching Block’s diaristic video footage, I was reminded of such family-related photographic projects as Mitch Epstein’s Family Business, Larry Sultan’s Pictures from Home, Richard Billingham’s Ray’s a Laugh, Nick Waplington’s Living Room, among others.

The trailer just doesn’t do it justice. See this film if you haven’t.

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