During the introduction the voice-over asks “Who am I? How do I fit in?”. It’s a question we’ve all asked ourselves. And It’s a Family Thing uses an extended family reunion to address the issues raised by those questions.
It’s a Family Thing feels like an enduring mystery or puzzle. One that we are invited to watch being solved. There is a warmth and dedication in this group of people that makes us care about their histories. The stylistic choice of filming in black and white gives this documentary a sense of being a part of history and of the passing of time.
By considering the role of slavery in this family’s history, we are forced to confront the idea that past pain is passed down through generations. And how those pervasive generational traumas may manifest, something the younger generation may themselves be ready to tackle.
Lea Anderson takes us on a journey of considering the ready-made bonds that exist from being related. There is a sense of some of the contributors working to put together the puzzle that is their identity. Something that can only be complete when they fully understand where they fit in this wide web.
The film places family as key to being part of something, of having a deep connection that serves as a foundation. Descendants of the Emanuel/Screen family are putting this notion in practice, forming more than a family. It’s as if they are almost an association, helping facilitate the learning of the younger members and helping guide and support them. As one family member states in closing, “You can’t do it yourself”.
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