Review of Tarnation (2003) by Kevin M — 25 Jul 2007

This truly is a redefinition of the autobiography. It captures the essence of a family throughout a 20-year period, creating not just a linear progression of events, but a canvas of pictures, sounds, and words that displays a vital and constantly changing picture of the relationship between Jonathan and his mentally ill mother.

Try to get past the initial feeling that Jonathan is self-absorbed, because filming himself is how he learned to deal with his unstable home life. If you can get past this, you will find a work of art--a finely-crafted documentary that looks at how humans accept that they must inevitably lose, and how they love in spite of that loss.