In 2013, a TEDXWomen Talk delivered by Angela Patton took the internet by storm. Her topic - a program she conceived in Richmond, Virginia that allows incarcerated fathers and their daughters to spend cherished moments together. These events, known as “Daddy Daughter Dances,” rapidly grew in popularity, extending the program to several other prisons around the nation. "Daughters," a documentary co-helmed by Patton, chronicles the inception of the dances in a Washington D.C. prison and centers on four young girls whose lives are deeply impacted by their father's imprisonment.
In order to participate, fathers are required to undergo a 10-week program designed to foster their paternal instincts and facilitate the sharing of their innermost fears, regrets, and painful episodes. Some participants have spoken of the program as a rare safe haven for open dialogue about emotions.
The poignant documentary shifts its lens from these distant fathers to the daughters left in their absence. Vox pops from Aubrey, a bright five-year-old, Santana, a 10-year-old substituting as her family's guardian, 11-year-old Ja’Ana, unable to recall her father's features, and 15-year-old Raziah, plagued by the grief of her father's absence, reveal the emotional turmoil these young girls endure when denied a paternal figure. Compounded by socio-economic factors, the fathers' absence underscores a cyclic nature of vulnerability and crime.
Acknowledged for its warmth and lyricism, "Daughters," has many heartrending scenes capturing the pain of loss and separation, and the resilience of humanity under dispiriting circumstances. The success of these dances goes beyond an emotional release; the recidivism rate for program participants dips to around three percent, testifying to the significance of paternal bonding in rehabilitation processes.
This documentary is a tender testament to the strength of familial bonds in the face of adversity, championing the importance of unity and resilience. It presents deeply moving scenes of fathers transitioning from their penal garb to jackets and ties, instructing each other to tie knots, and passing on boutonnieres to their daughters as tokens of their dedication. While the film acknowledges the grim reality of these men's actions leading to incarceration, it shifts the narrative towards their role as fathers, emphasizing the mutual need for fathers to be a part of their daughters' lives and vice versa.
Today such impactful initiatives are more necessary than ever, as several prisons have replaced in-person visits with remote ones, amplifying the emotional and financial strains held by the families. The overarching message of "Daughters," is genuine and universal – being a present parent is vital for both the emotional health of children and the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals. Now screening in select theaters and available for streaming on Netflix beginning August 14th.
