51 Birch St - recommended

The other day, Doug Block came to Austin to screen his fine new film 51 Birch St. for the AFS Doc Tour just prior to it's national release via Truly Indie. I saw the film shortly after its sxsw success this past March and was deeply moved. He managed to make me care wholeheartedly for his mother, his father, and his own search to reconcile the people they really were, separate from his own child's eye skew.

On the way back from a quick drink and tapas during the screening, I continued sharing how much I loved the film. How artfully I thought he'd crafted the story. Mentioning his mother's journals that lie at the center, I said:

"You know I have journals too."
"Burn them," he snapped.