Family Affair

Family Affair is an engaging and intimate documentary made in 2010 by Chico Colvard, one of the film's central figures. This profound, deeply personal film takes the viewers on an emotional journey exploring the complex layers of family relationships, trauma, resilience, and the power of forgiveness.

Family Affair begins when Chico accidentally shoots his older sister in the leg. This unfortunate, tragic incident proved serendipitous, resulting in the unveiling of the long, secret history of their father's sexual abuse of his daughters. This revelation resulted in the removal of the four children, Angelika, Chico, Pauline, and Christa, from their home. Despite the destructive nature and absolute moral repugnancy of his actions, the children's father, Elijah, continued to hold some inexplicable influence over the family. This peculiar and unsettling relationship drives the narrative of Family Affair.

As an adult, Chico felt compelled to understand the magnetic hold his reprehensible father continued to exert over his sisters. His exploration launched the ten-year journey that would ultimately lead to the creation of Family Affair. As the film's director, Colvard uses intimate interviews, family photos, and home movie footage to examine the generational influence of abuse and cycles of family violence. Throughout the film, he asks crucial questions about guilt, survival, self-worth, and the long-term consequences of divulging family secrets.

Family Affair is told directly through the words and experiences of the three sisters, Angelika, Pauline, and Christa. Their stories are the heart of the film, and it's through their perspectives that the narrative unravels. They depict a struggle of memory, pain, and identity as they recount their experiences of abuse and the resulting complexities of their relationships - with each other, with their father, and with their own respective children. Each sister bares her soul, sharing her narrative with an astonishing honesty that underscores the bravery involved in their participation in this project.

This film would never have been possible, however, without Chico Colvard’s sensitive and introspective direction. Chico raises challenging and significant questions relating to responsibility, culpability, and the ability to move beyond traumatic pasts. He proves himself a skilled storyteller, handling the sensitive subject matter with the necessary respect, discretion, and empathy. Colvard’s approach demonstrates the depth of his engagement with the subject matter, and his passion for bringing these difficult issues into public discourse.

Additionally, the film includes a complex depiction of the abuser himself, Elijah. While his actions are undeniably deplorable, Elijah's portrayal is not entirely demonic - perhaps as a testament to his continued influence on his daughters. The man shown in Family Affair is deeply flawed, with the film examining the many facets of his personality that are difficult to reconcile with his heinous deeds.

In its exploration of how such instances of abuse create lasting, profound effects on those involved, Family Affair delves into the subject matter that many might find uncomfortable or too poignant. However, it is through this forthrightness that the film manages to offer a unique look at unconventional family narratives that exist beyond the public eye.

Composer Miriam Cutler’s haunting score harmoniously complements the film’s intimate, emotional tone, enhancing the viewing experience and anchoring the narrative. Meanwhile, Chico's probing camera and the thoughtful editing work together to create an inconspicuous cinematic style that lets the story tell itself.

Family Affair ultimately illuminates the often complex nature of forgiveness and resilience, all while providing audiences with a deeply human study of the impacts of familial trauma. This film's central theme is that terrible abuse can exist within a family without damaging the notion of 'family' itself. It forces viewers to grapple uncomfortably with a disturbing paradox—how familial bonds can persist despite the most horrific transgressions.

Overall, Family Affair is a deeply personal and courageous portrayal of one family’s struggle with their past. It stands out as a testament to the transformative power of truth-telling and as a profound inquiry into the paradoxical power of familial love and loyalty. It's a film that manages to be universally relatable and deeply particular, heartbreaking and redemptive, all at once. As a documentary, it is not just a narrative of a single family's experience, but it also serves as a platform for important conversations about family, reconciliation, survival, and revelation.