Film Description

African-American filmmaker Marco Williams was twenty-four years old the first time he learned his father's name. He had been raised in a closely knit family where for generations, strong, husbandless mothers were the norm and fathers promptly disappeared.

This film documents Marco's seven-year search for the elusive father he never knew and his coming to terms with the truth of his origins. Ironically, this quest for his father actually brings him closer to his mother. It was her resourcefulness that enabled them both to improve their lives. She saw to it that Marco received a first-rate education, and later, that she was able to pursue her own ambitions. This portrait of an African-American family shows that even in a "fatherless" household, there can be strong family ties that support the younger generation.

As Marco peels away the layers of mystery that surround his father's absence, viewers will be riveted by his single-minded determination. This portrayal of a son's search for identity and the affirmation of the family strikes a universal chord.

Silver Apple, National Educational Film & Video Festival, 1994
Sundance Film Festival, 1992
San Francisco International Film Festival, 1992
USA Film Festival, 1992
Margaret Mead Film Festival, 1992

"An unforgettable movie about blacks in America, about the so-called "nuclear family," and most of all, about the bonds between parents and children."

San Francisco Chronicle

"A compelling personal odyssey ... raises significant issues of single-parent families in the black community."

Booklist