Search - Tell Them Who You Are on DVD

Good study of a family

William Gerstein | 12/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am partial to those stories that really get at the heart of a family. Mark Wexler needed to do this film to work out his relationship with his parents. It worked. As you see this film forget that his father had a life where he worked with famous people. This story gets played out with most of us regular people. Worth seeing by all."

Tell Them Who You Are by film maker Mark Wexler

John Agnone | Virginia | 12/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This documentary touched me deeper than any documentary to date. As a former editor for National Geographic Publications, I hired Mark Wexler to shoot still pictures for a National Geographic Book. He was talented then, and when he started making documentaries several years ago, I was thrilled by their insight and quality. But when Mark worked for me I didn't know he was the son of Academy Award winner Haskell Wexler. Only within the past year did I realize Mark's father was his father and a difficult guy to get along with. Like most children, Mark has only wanted to get a nod of appreciation from his dad. That nod in Mark's significant and acclaimed professional career was never forthcoming and was a source of sadness for a son who admired a distant father.



As the film reveals, Mark decided to produce a documentary about his dad as his dad approached his 80th birthday. The film is a little uncomfortable to watch at times and completely unscripted, yet I could not stop watching. From the opening scenes where Haskell is critical of Mark's questions and filming approach, to the closing scenes where Mark takes Haskell to visit Mark's mother and Haskell's ex-wife who has Alzheimers, there is a steady softening of Haskell's attitude toward his son. In the end, Haskell expresses (a rare event for his hardened ego) gratitude for his son and the connection between father and son is made, or at least a connection is started on a new emotional level.



In-depth interviews with some of Hollywood's greats about being the offspring of a powerful parent (or being a powerful parent) adds to the universal appeal of this great documentary. This movie transcends Hollywood. No glitz here. Just regular people who happen to be in the entertainment business. Highly recommended. Thank you, Mark, for making this film.

"

Unexpectedly profound

Gus | New Haven, CT | 10/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An inspiring, moving documentary.

What could have been a dreary, by-the-numbers clebrity bio becomes instead a profound and deeply felt investigation into the sometimes thorny relationship between acclaimed cinematographer/documentarian Haskell Wexler and his not-so-famous filmmaker son Mark. It's a film that is both humorous and heart-breaking, with many insightful moments from surprising sources. It's fascinating to watch this documentary expand far beyond the limits of its localized Hollywood subject matter and touch such a universal emotional chord with fathers and sons in all walks of life.

I thank both Wexlers for this brave film."

Tell Tehm Who You Are

Victoria J. Faria | Paradise, CA USA | 06/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thank you, I received it very quickly and enjoyed receiving it. I collect Julia Robert Movies."