Weekly Movie Rec: Dear Zachary
Alright, I’ve got to preface this week’s recommendation with a warning. This is without a doubt one of the saddest movies you will ever see, and viewing it is a physically tough experience, and you might not even get through it.
But that said, I absolutely think it’s worth watching, and if you can manage it, it’s an incredibly emotional tale that deserves to be heard. The title, Dear Zachary, is in reference to the fact that this movie is a letter to a son whose father was murdered when he was too young to remember him. His friend started making the film so when he grew up, he could still know his father in some capacity, and see how much he loved him.
The documentary is an ongoing process however, as during the course of filming, there are some significant events that occur, which make the film even more profound. Yes, all of this is very true, and very sad, but I think it’s a story that needed to be told, and you won’t ever watch another film or documentary quite like it. I still to this day remember the pit that this movie created in my stomach, and I guarantee no matter who you are, this film will reach you on an emotional level whether you want it to or not.
This is available to stream on netflix, very sad movie.
We had to watch it for a film class not to long ago, but our professor didn’t tell us what it was about. I went into it blind, only to be shocked and saddened more than once. The twists that happen in the movie, which happened in real life are shockingly horrifying. It is an extremely underrated documentary.
This is a tough film to watch but something I think everyone should see.
Yes, this is a very sad movie. To me it’s one of the best documentaries ever. So many great elements to the film; from the incredibly decent and kind grandparents to the shocking twists.
I’m emotionally drained after watching this film. It was the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen. When the narrator choked up, I lost it.
Great recommendation, Paul. I caught this movie about 2 years back on a drunk weeknight. When I’ve had a few I like to unwind to a little Lockup: Raw until I fall asleep, but this was on MSNBC (about 85% positive) instead. Man, I don’t know if it was the alcohol or being sleep deprived that did it, but this movie completely crushed me emotionally. All cliche’s aside, this is truly one of those “Stranger than Fiction” movies. One of the most unabashedly honest and emotionally raw documentaries I have ever seen, more people need to witness and experience what is “Dear Zachary”. Again, fantastic “Weekly Movie Rec”.