Customer Reviews

51 Birch Street

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't let my subject title fool you, 51 BIRCH STREET, is not the Ani DiFranco or Sarah McLachlan of personal documentaries- meaning this is a film that men and women of all ages will enjoy (assuming that they like emotionally stirring portraits of American families!) Its just that I always find myself pleasantly surprised when I see a unflinching, emotionally accurate, and unwaveringly honest portrayal of a woman by a man. 51 BIRCH STREET is all that and more. The filmmaker Doug Block is clearly admiring of his mother, Mina, yet unafraid to show her character warts and all, in the ultimate testimony to the belief that love is being able to see someone's full character, but still really love them just as they are. Three months after her sudden death his father reconnected with a secretary from 40 years ago, Kitty (what names, Mina and Kitty!), within the year they've married and are moving to Florida! This was obviously was a bit of a shock to him and his sisters, and after decades of his mothers diaries were discovered during the move, Doug was inspired to make the film. Ultimately it is a loving portrait of the challenges of family. It's gripping and moving, a must see!

It is rare that you see a documentary that has such universal themes - family secrets, marriage, fidelity - and this film does. But, more than that, it's Doug Block's personal touches that make this film so special and emotionally powerful. Prepare yourself to be surprised by this film because it sneaks up on you - it's hard not to see traces of your own family in this. When it's over, you'll find yourself thinking it over for days.

A documentary that seems more like a reinactment, '51 Birch Street' presents an excellent family affair. Being able to draw from a large stash of photos, a few home movies and videos, as well as his deceased mother's daily diary, filmmaker Doug Block discovers a lot about his family--mostly his parents--that he hardly knew possible. Ambivalence creeps into play, for his discoveries are bittersweet. Sometimes he finds out things he'd rather not know. Generosity is also present, however, for the film wouldn't be interesting if we didn't care about the participants. Some of the discoveries have to do with social changes occurring between the fifties and sixties. Block narrates the family story with both emotion and detachment, but mainly approaches the film like he were a reporter. (We find out early in the film that after his mother dies, his father is quickly on the mend, marrying his long-time secretary.) With editing that uses good judgment and family discussions that yield interest, '51 Birch Street' is a real find.

51 Birch Street is the family discussion that most families never have. But not only do the Blocks have that discussion, documentary filmmaker Doug Block has captured it all on film and expertly crafted an easily accessible documentary that is equally amusing and moving, stirring and reassuring. What begins as one man's investigation into his parent's past slowly morphs into the most eloquently constructed, universally relatable digital home movie of all time.

Ineterspersing decades of video footage, photos, interviews, and (most notably) his mother's journals, Block examines his parent's 54-year marriage looking for clues as to why his father may have remarried only three months after his mother's death. As Block slowly unearths information from his mother's journals and through interviews with his father and relatives, the film picks up steam, building towards the inevitably cathartic finale.

But 51 Birch Street isn't just an autobiographical film about Block's parents. It's also not just a study in marital fidelity (or lack thereof). What 51 Birch Street really does is examine the disconnect between parents and children, between generations, between siblings, and between friends and documents one man's journey in bridging that disconnect. 51 Birch Street is the rare film that is designed to open dialogue on many complex issues. As Block works towards his own resolutions, audience members can't help but think about questions they may feel the need to ask or to discuss.

Inevitably there are uncomfortable moments where both Block and the audience are wondering whether he should delve any further into the past, both for moral reasons and because, as the DVD cover asks: "Do you REALLY want to know your parents?" Time and time again Block asks himself this question, and time and time again the answer is yes. When the secrets are laid bare and the past has been discussed, what's most rewarding about the film is the heartfelt discovery that communication and discussion clearly do aid in understanding and happiness. 51 Birch Street is the surprise documentary of the year. At a time when the documentary form is increasingly being used to further political agendas, it is a digital breath of fresh air.

The bonus features here are as entertaining and revealing as the film. In a brief featurette entitled Who Knew? Block goes back to interview various members of his family, including his father and stepmother, and gets their reactions to the film itself. But the four-minute "I Flunk Adultery" music video steals the DVD as Block's uncle Josh Vogel shares the entire five verses to the song with the audience, accompanied by a clever music video.

Moving, ultimately enthralling documentary about an average suburban New York husband and wife, and their family. And, no, it isn't a secret murder or molestation or other sensational element often seen in other family documentaries that makes this one engrossing. It's simply the sad revelation that there were secret emotional lives, laced with frustration and sadness, under the stiff-upper-lip exteriors of the married couple who are the film's subjects. Documentarian Doug Block's approach to his parents is clever: he first makes it seem that it was his father who had a secret life- real and interior- while his mother happily toiled away with the kids. But it's later revealed that this description better fit Doug's mother (though I'm not completely convinced Doug's father didn't have his own very-real adventures, too, to counter his frustrations). Still, whatever one ends up believing about what went on and where the fault originated in the marriage, the documentary itself is affectionate and non-judgemental, just wanting to understand its subjects, and feel a little sad for them for all their years of underlying unhappiness.

But there's also joy and hope in the film, in the form of Doug's 83 year-old father finding ultimate contentment with an old acquaintance (possibly old flame), to the amazement of Doug and his sisters. It's this new relationship, however, that gets the documentary rolling in the first place, as the filmmaker and his siblings ask, "How can Dad be married for over fifty years but then fall in love with a woman from his past only three months after his wife dies?"

Good extras shed further light on this very interesting story and on Doug Block's quirky and often entertaining extended family members. Those family members, by the way, perform the welcome function of occasionally lightening the mood in an otherwise fairly dark film.

During my initial viewing of Doug Block's 51 BIRCH STREET, I found myself channeling my inner-documentarian, wondering how my parents might look to the outside world as subjects. Block's thought-provoking film confirms the notion that adult children may never truly know what issues plagued or impeded their parents. That mommy and daddy telegraphed a warm'n'fuzzy existence to their growing children, one might find the whole process of their coming clean later in life a shocking and revolting development. Back then, our parents were larger than life. They were bold figures. They were there to set the example, to provide, to not show any kinks in the armor (even though, as we came to realize, they were there). Keep the skeletons locked in the closet for the time being, please. Later on, after I've become self-actualized and comfortable in my own skin, it might be appropriate to discover a hidden diary or strategically-concealed flaw. Block's film, which has parental infidelity and alienation at its core, offers keen insight into the ways in which our parents carry out their lives, manage their emotions, and present to their children while an altogether different value system percolates beneath the surface. There is no questioning the love (which radiates and permeates) but there are questions. Block is clearly on a quest for resolution here, be it through methodical pans across the pages of his mother Mina's writing, or zooming in on the wrinkled brow of Mike, his laconic father, during a moderately-strained interview. The family secrets, once so carefully guarded, peel away like layers of an onion. The skeletons bounce out of the closet, announce "I'm here!" and gleefully pitch the key. True to the genre, Block lets it all unfold before the rolling camera and it becomes obvious that there is so much happening on both sides of the lens. I wondered how I'd react if I were making a documentary about MY parents. In my eyes, mom and dad were monogamous, committed partners in life. My dad passed first after which my mom became very expository and frank about certain things that he did, or didn't do on her watch. These were not calamitous for the most part, just minor indiscretions made by a man who had his family's best interest front and center. Not incriminating or uncommon to wish for a do-over, I thought. Like Mina, she would have been a natural on camera (I'm ready for my close-up, son). She was eloquent and enthralling. Now a card-carrying grown-up, I appreciated my mother's candor. After she died nearly ten years later, no diary was unearthed. No love letters from other suitors were found. Flaws and faults notwithstanding, their soul mating was a chain unbroken. Learning that one's parents doubted or masked marital love can't be an easy pill to swallow. Clearly, acceptance on whatever terms is a far more difficult proposition. Perhaps the elder Block finds his redemption in his subsequent marriage to Kitty. Are we left to ponder which was the truer love? 51 BIRCH STREET is the thinking son's film, a very human and very poignant documentary that proves parents are sometimes the very best choice of participants. Well done!

If you like documentaries, you'll love this emotionally wrenching tale of a son's discovery of his parents' pasts after his mother dies. There's a nice twist to it, and the soundtrack is very wistful, contributing to the melancholy mood. More should see this one.

Watching this film caused quite an emotional reaction. This is what today's documentaries are all about. It's refreshing to watch something so personal, honest and real. Mr. Block's thoughts, opinions and disclosure are rarely seen these days and are incredibly well displayed here. It's a fine line to walk between personal truth and exploitation. This film treads very carefully and quite successfully.

While watching the film, I couldn't help but wonder what would become of myself and my girlfriend: what we would celebrate, what we would regret, what we would suppress. Such a strange, emotional thing relationships are. I feel that this film made me honestly look into the future and ponder what my current relationship would hold.

One would think that learning about how a seemingly normal couple falls short of society's expectations would give birth to pessimism...but it doesn't. Quite the opposite: it made me feel good. I feel that I now know more about marriage...about women.

Definitely check this out, it'll make you think - exactly what a good documentary should be designed to do.

All American, all Jewish, all current and contemporary but I thought of Bergman and WIld Strawberries and
the others. THe music, the narration, the writing,the images all resounded and interpreted even though
they were tender and objective. I got to know Doug as well as his family and could relate to the father,the
time and fell in love with his mother from the first scene. I think this is a lesson in documentary film making
that might equal Maysles for this time. Of course, I am just saying what I know as I am a painter and a woman
and not a professional of that genre. But I am so glad that I just watched this today, again, at home on Christmas Day from my point of view. It is intelligent and thoughtful and beautiful.

O.K. sorry that was a pretentious title, wasn't it? Seriously though, it's true. What makes this such a profound and moving piece of work is that everyone can relate to some or most of it. It is the story of all of us really. I don't know anyone who has never resented their parents, misunderstood their parents, or wondered about what makes their parents tick. I also don't know anyone who has never regretted choices they have made. Watching this film has actually given me a greater understanding and empathy of myself and of my family. That's what is so brilliant about this film. Through the straightforward and accessible production and editing style, the filmmaker has given the viewer the ability to gain greater empathy and understanding of one's own loved ones--and one's self, not just the people covered in the film. It also happens to be an entertaining and interesting story, don't get me wrong, but again where I think it becomes brilliant is in it's ability to draw you in ad make you relate your own life to that of the characters. Not all documentaries do that. It takes a lot to make a viewer stop being purely a voyeur and actually empathize on a deep personal level with the subjects. I think it is easily a 9.0/10 if not a little better.