One of my favourite films of 2024 is the documentary Daughters which was first screened at this year’s Sundance Festival. Snapped up by Netflix and set for a debut on the streamer in August, the film revolves around a U.S. prison programme where incarcerated fathers are offered one day to spend with their children to attend a daddy-and-daughter dance.
A moving portrait of empathy and forgiveness, Daughters traces an eight-year documentary journey by filmmaker Natalie Rae and social change advocate Angela Patton. The film intimately follows Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and Ja’Ana as they prepare for a momentous Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. Speaking openly about their aspirations, dreams, and the emotional toll of their fathers’ absence, compounded by the constraints of virtual visits, these girls reveal a profound wisdom and resilience beyond their years. As they navigate heartbreak, anger, and uncertainty, they seize a precious opportunity to forge connections. Daughters sheds light on the complexities of familial bonds strained by the unforgiving barriers of the criminal justice system and emphasizes that the foundation of community healing lies within the family unit.
Natalie Rae and Angela Patton direct this marvellous film which will have a brief cinema run in the UK from 9th August and on Netflix from 14th August.
Watch the trailer below.
