Working at a camp for young girls, Angela Patton was organizing their annual daddy-daughter dance when one girl confided that her dad cannot attend because he’s in jail. Not wanting her to feel left out, the girls brainstormed ideas on how she could still see her dad on the night of the dance. Together, they signed a letter asking the Richmond, Virginia sheriff to hold a dance in the prison for incarcerated fathers and their daughters. Thus, the “Date with Dad” program was created. As the program began expanding across the country, Angela Patton decided to collaborate with filmmaker Natalie Rae to document the experience. The resulting documentary, Daughters, was released in 2024 on Netflix and focuses on a group of fathers and daughters in the D.C. prison system.
The movie begins with five year-old Aubrey and her dad, Keith. Aubrey is energetic, upbeat, and hopeful, despite dealing with the fact that her dad will spend the next seven years in jail. She talks about being the smartest in her class, and loves to go around reciting her times tables. She has trouble comprehending just how long her seven years actually is, though, since she has only been alive for five. She gets so excited remembering such ordinary moments with her father from before he was incarcerated, recalling things like “remember when we found a butterfly?” Talking about the upcoming dance, she painfully says, “How many is a week? I don’t like weeks.” The documentary focuses on Aubrey, along with three other girls, each telling their own story throughout the “Date with Dad” experience.
On the other side, the story records the ten week program that the fathers must go through in preparation for the dance. During this time, men who share the common goal of seeing their daughters can be vulnerable with each other, opening up about the challenges of missing their families. It’s these scenes of the orange jumpsuit-ridden dads casually talking at their regular meetings that contain the most impactful pieces of the documentary. Having spent years in jail — in some cases, most of their daughters’ lives — these fathers have acquired a deep understanding of the value of time. Through their words and experiences, they highlight how time with loved ones is the most precious part of life, and how easily it’s taken for granted. They share the emotionally profound impact that being away from their daughters has had on them. Despite their troubled pasts, the men are complex, caring, and uniquely multifaceted. As Ja’Ana’s dad puts it, “I change every day.”
The filmmaking techniques are minimal, yet effective, with music that both subtly and appropriately sets the atmosphere. The documentary excels in its storytelling, skillfully moving through time to keep the film engaging. It counts down the ten weeks leading up to the dance, shows the climax of the dance itself, and finally resolves itself with a reflective epilogue. However, the movie tends to drag before the dance, and could be cut shorter in the buildup. Nonetheless, the film features beautiful shots in between the dramatic narrative which serve as transitions. Additionally, the scene of the girls walking down the hallway to meet their dads is stunningly captured.
Angela Patton and Natalie Rae do an amazing job of letting the characters tell their own stories in a very raw way. Whether heartbreaking, funny, or mundane, every conversation is organic and nothing feels forced. The camera is simply observing the people and capturing their reactions. One touching conversation at the dance sees Aubrey say “Imma cry myself to sleep”, followed by her father’s response, “make sure they happy tears”.
The filmmakers do a remarkable job of giving the daughters room to express themselves, treating them as the mature individuals they are. The girls often make it tacitly clear that their father’s presence is enough to make them happy. There are no grand expectations or notions. The daughters and fathers simply savor each moment together, no matter how ordinary it may seem.
Some of the girls, however, are more distant towards their dads. Though, over the years, each girl grows, and relationships are constantly evolving. It is extremely interesting to see the different dynamics between each pair, and how imprisonment has affected everyone differently.
Daughters is tender in some places and tragic in others. Throughout the film, the fathers are repeatedly warned to brace themselves for the emotional roller coaster that the dance will bring. Before you dive into this documentary, you will need to buckle in as well, because Angela Patton and Natalie Rae effectively immerse the viewers in the steep ups and downs of each family’s journey.
7/10
