Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter
- Deborah Hoffmann
- Doris Hoffmann
Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter is an American documentary from the year 1994. Director, screenplay and production was Deborah Hoffmann, who documented her mother Doris progressive Alzheimer's disease with her film.
Action
Doris Hoffmann is widowed at the beginning of the film 78 years old and for some time. She decides to move to California to be closer to her daughter Deborah. The camera accompanies Doris and shows how the pensioner increasingly behaving strangely and always forget. Deborah Hoffmann filming various episodes in the course of the disease, such as a time in which Doris Hoffmann almost non-stop eating bananas, unable to remember that she has already eaten a few minutes before a banana. Doris goes through a "Dentist period" in which they list countless commemorating enrolled at non-existent appointments and wants to go to the dentist every day, on the assumption that she had an appointment there. Deborah accepted slowly that it no longer gives the Doris, she knew. The following are painful moments when the mother does not remember that Deborah is her daughter, asks that family relationship between the two women there. The daughter tries to understand the mother and to help her. The relationship between the two women is changing, it is no longer based on shared memories. Deborah Hoffmann realizes that her mother only lives in the present and the past and the future do not matter. On the edge also homosexuality Deborah and the handling of the mother with her lesbian daughter is discussed.
Reviews
Walter Goodman wrote in his review for The New York Times: " Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter Deborah Hoffman is funny, sad, loving, desperate, ironic and fatalistic report on an attempt to cope with the restless ghost of her mother. "
Edward Guthmann ruled in the San Francisco Chronicle: " The director is in spite of the excruciating position of their mother also humorous moments, without any disrespect. Although their condition worsens, Hoffmann recognizes estimating values the life of their mother, that has changed so completely. "
Awards and nominations
- Oscars 1995: Nomination as " Best Documentary "
- International Film Festival Berlin 1995: Teddy Award
- Caligari Film Prize 1995