Watch Memories Of A Penitent Heart

Memories of a Penitent Heart is a powerful and emotional documentary film that explores the complicated history between filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo's gay uncle Miguel and the rest of her Catholic Puerto Rican family. The film takes a deep and personal look at the ways in which family history and tradition can both connect and divide us.

The story begins with the death of Miguel in the 1980s, from complications related to AIDS. Despite his close relationship with Aldarondo's mother, Miguel had been estranged from the rest of the family for many years before his death. When Aldarondo's grandmother dies years later, she leaves behind a trove of family photos and letters that prompt Aldarondo to begin investigating the history of Miguel's estrangement.

What unfolds is a touching and sometimes difficult exploration of the ways in which homophobia and religion can create deep divides within families. Aldarondo interviews family members, including her mother, uncle, and grandmother's close friends, to try to understand what happened between Miguel and the rest of the family. Through these interviews and old family photos and films, we see glimpses of Miguel's life and love as a gay man in the 1970s and 80s, as well as the strict Catholic upbringing he and his siblings endured.

The film is a poignant look at the way that family stories are constructed and remembered, and how different people can have vastly different versions of events. Aldarondo's mother, for example, remembers Miguel as a difficult and troubled person, while her uncle paints a picture of a happy-go-lucky young man who was misunderstood by his parents.

One of the most powerful aspects of the film is the way that it uses old family photos and films to bring to life the stories of Miguel's life and estrangement. In one particularly moving scene, we see old home movie footage of Miguel as a child, laughing and playing with his siblings, before the film cuts abruptly to images of his grave, with the voiceover of a family member mentioning that he was buried in a separate cemetery from the rest of the family.

Throughout the film, Aldarondo weaves together her family's story with the larger history of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, particularly the impact of the AIDS epidemic. She interviews activists and historians who help provide context for the experiences of Miguel and others like him, and shows how these larger historical forces intersected with the personal experiences of Aldarondo's family.

Overall, Memories of a Penitent Heart is a deeply affecting documentary that tells a personal and compelling story of love, loss, and acceptance. It is a powerful reminder that family histories are complex and multifaceted, and that understanding and compassion are key to healing old wounds.

Memories Of A Penitent Heart is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.