Prodigal Sons

At first, this family documentary by Kimberly Reed seems like it is going to be the story of her transition. Born Paul McKerrow, Reed had gone from a straight male high-school quarterback to a lesbian filmmaker in the 20 years since she’d left her Montana home town, and the film opens with her returning for a high-school reunion. But then the tale takes a twist to examine her adoptive brother’s discovery that he is the biological grandson of screen legends Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. And then it takes another twist, to examine the stresses and damage a head injury can inflict on family life. This is an honest, unexpected and simply amazing film that manages to cover a lot of ground while still retaining its center. At heart, it is simply a film about a family, with all the change, grief and love that entails.