This doc is directed by and centered around a trans-gender female. She returns to the Montana city where she was born to attend her high school reunion. The high school where while attending she (then he, Paul McKerrow) was the starting quarterback of the football team, a straight "A" student and voted most likely to succeed.
This portion of the film was a bit trite for my taste. It really seemed to me to be a bit of a cry for attention and a flimsy premise to focus a documentary on . However, the uniqueness of such a situation, along with a well crafted production would almost guarantee the film at least a small theatrical release. But man did this doc have more in store for me!
Allow me to set up the situation this now woman walked into. Her parents originally couldn't conceive a child so they adopted a baby boy, Mark . Almost 9 months after that they did conceive a child, Paul. A year or so later they brought another miracle baby into their lives, Glenn.
I should start by saying that I don't want to spoil anything about the movie, but there are plot twists that can not be left out of a review of this movie. After all, the tag line for this movie is "A brotherly rivalry between a man and a women . . . and Orson Welles".
Glenn, the youngest brother, is now happily living in California. He is openly gay. He doesn't have much of a role in the film, and apparently doesn't communicate a lot with his siblings. Not out of any animosity. He seems to have just moved on and put Montana well behind him.
Kim, the middle son, had always felt that she was living a lie. Her partner, Claire (yes a woman) is with her at the reunion and often during the movie.
Mark, the oldest brother, was in a tragic car accident in his early 20's. The accident caused him to undergo surgery where parts of his brain were removed. This created extreme mood swings, loss of short term memory, and fits of rage and violence. For the past 15 years or so he has relied on a plethora of medication to help keep him under control. And did I mention that while researching his biological parents he finds out that his grandparents on his mothers side are Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth!
Apparently they had a daughter together who ended up pregnant and gave the newborn up for adoption. He finds all this out and makes plans to see his birth mother when he gets word that she has passed away. The first time he sees his biological mother is when she is lying in her casket.
The film goes on to deal with Kim's struggle to accept her past, Mark's struggle with his mood swings and violent out bursts. There is also a pilgrimage to Croatia for a meet and great with the late Orson Wells' muse and long time lover Oja Kodar.
I felt that the movie succeeded most when it focused on the struggle Mark has always had living in Paul/Kim's shadow. First in high school as Paul was a jock with a brain. Now with Kim, his trans-gender sibling, Mark seems to want to make nice. But it appears as if he overwhelmed and not totally able to process everything that has occurred in the past 20 years. He clings to the past with a white knuckle kung fu grip.
As a whole I found Prodigal Sons to be a story that if it were fictional it would struggle to get people invested because the plot would be too complex. As a documentary the story is the main reason to watch. I found it to be a little more amateurish than most of the documentaries that I watch. But for a first film I think it was a success. And I found myself genuinely hoping that all the parties involved find peace and harmony in their lives. Mr Wells would be proud. I would give this film 3/5 stars. For more information check out the link below for the trailer. Also I will attach a link to the films official website. Support independent film!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oz2BHFH4fc&feature=fvw
http://www.prodigalsonsfilm.com/drupal/home
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