Search - In a Dream on DVD

A documentary of sexual abuse

Noirist | USA | 02/17/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"From this movie's self-description, you might think this is a a benign documentary about the life and art of a Philadelphia muralist. Nothing could be farther from the truth. This documentary is about a deeply disturbed man who was repeatedly sexually molested as a child and about all the ensuing horror in his life, his art, and in the lives of those around him. Yes, the man makes murals in Philaelphia but honestly this movie is not about that. If you want to see a movie about murals, look elsewhere; I wish I had."

Captivating!

Jelly Jar | Collinsville, IL USA | 01/14/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This little gem isn't so much a documentary as much as it is a story. It's rather typical in its portrayal of a family dealing with depression, adultery, and separation, but what draws it all together into one big mound of coolness is the creativity involved in Isaiah's (The Father) work as an artist, particularly focusing on mosaic design. I believe the movie said the family resided in Philadelphia, and Isaiah's entire focus is beautifying life in and around the city by putting himself and his loved ones into his work. That coupled with the slow deterioration of his immediate family make for an interesting, if somewhat involved, piece of film making. Typically, most documentaries bore me to yawns and tears, except for those based in the genre of science, but as much as I wanted to turn this off, I couldn't help but stay glued to it, for all the wonder and color of Isaiah's work, for all the strength and stability of his wife, Julia, for the innocence and caring demeanor of Zeke, the brother who isn't filming the movie, and for Jeremiah, the brother who is filming the movie, and his attention to detail in describing, not only with interviews, but with highly visual aspects, the nature of the world in which he grew up. This one gets four stars from me! **** Highly enjoyable!"