2023 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
In 2022 Troy Kotsur became the second deaf person to win an Academy Award after taking the world by storm in his performance in CODA. Troy believes that one person, more than anyone else, is responsible for his success, for him being able to find his way in the world and accept himself for who he is. That person is his father, Leonard. To My Father is Troy’s way of showing gratitude and appreciation for all that his father did throughout the course of his life–and as he tells the world of the wonderful man who helped to raise him, emotions rise to the surface with power and vigor.
To My Father constantly works to remind viewers of all that they have–to remind viewers that while we may face challenges, it’s important to remember the good things, to find the silver lining, and to work through those difficult times–regardless of what they might be. To My Father does such a wonderful job of tapping into the emotions of viewers and allowing them to look inward and better understand themselves and their situation. Troy is a true artist–and Writer-Director Sean Schiavolin helps to bring out his best in a way that will reach out and touch viewers with a power that can rarely be seen in a documentary.
There have been many times in the past while watching a documentary when they use actors to depict the things that a subject may be saying where those depictions become frustrating. Those actors are so separate from the people that they portray, and oftentimes the passion just isn’t there. In To My Father, however, the actors that they cast to play the younger versions of Kotsur are so impressive, and they embody emotion in a way that really invites viewers into his story, into his past–and I was on the verge of tears every step of the way.
A lot of times I look at celebrities, and while I understand that they are human, facing struggles just like the rest of the world–their ivory towers often make it challenging to accept them this way. It’s sometimes difficult to appreciate them in the same way that you might your neighbor, your mother, or a friend–but To My Father helps to bridge this gap, to make connections between who many would consider to be the elites and the rest of the world.
To My Father is stunningly beautiful, just incredible in so many ways. From the moment it opens, through every harrowing and stunning instance throughout the film, until it ends, the film reels in viewers. Troy Kotsur is truly brilliant, more than just the stellar actor that won an Academy Award last year–he’s an incredible person that knows how to reach others, to inspire. To My Father is my favorite film from the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.
Written & Directed by Sean Schiavolin.
Starring Troy Kotsur, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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