POV Season 21 Episode 16 In the Family

In the Family, a gripping documentary film, is featured on POV season 21 episode 16. The episode premieres on PBS stations and POV’s website. Written and directed by Joanna Rudnick, the documentary highlights the genetic connections - both biological and emotional - between family members.

The film provides an intimate and personal look at several families struggling with health issues, and how their familial bonds can be impacted by the challenges they face. Rudnick's exploration raises questions about unique aspects of being members of these families that are impacted by the health risks they face.

At the center of the documentary are three families with Huntington's disease, a genetic degenerative disorder that affects cognitive and physical motor skills. Gabrielle, a 19-year-old from Southern California suffers from this devastating disorder, and her poignant story kick-starts the documentary. Gabrielle's mother also had the disease, as well as her grandfather, which means the odds of Gabrielle's children inheriting the disease is high.

The film takes viewers along Gabrielle’s personal journey, showcasing her deep emotional struggles as she concerns for her future. Her perspective makes clear the direct relationship between mental health and biological risk factors, which, in her case, results in her housebound living situation. Gabrielle shares the camera with her caring but anxious mother, and it’s heartbreaking to watch their emotional bond as they cope with the presence of the condition.

In a powerful moment, Gabrielle meets some other people who have the disorder and share her experience. One of them is a woman who decided to have a child despite her Huntington's diagnosis. Gabrielle is stunned by the woman's decision despite the statistical risk, and through this, the film touches on deeper themes of hope and determination.

The story of Chuck and Tara Akers is an impactful tale of two people fighting to save their family. Like Gabrielle, the couple carries the same Huntington's gene, and they struggle with deciding whether they want to have children knowing the risk of passing the disease to them. The film deeply explores this decision in powerful ways, and from a sociological standpoint, these situations can help predict how these scenario plays out on both family and public health levels.

The final family journey featured in the documentary introduces us to Todd Hickey, who has BRCA2, a hereditary breast cancer gene. As Todd undergoes a preventive surgical procedure to remove his prostate and testicles, the filmmaker interviews him and his wife. Through his and his family's story, the film highlights how these genetic health circumstances can impact on-going family relationships, as well as larger health care systems and insurance providers.

Overall, In the Family is an emotionally raw, close examination of several families' personal struggles with genetics. The film is deeply moving and has powerful implications about the intersections between family life and health challenges. The documentary explores the complex puzzle of familial bonds and how such challenges can forever alter the perspectives of those who face them. The film concludes with a message of hope and provides a moving tribute to the power of love and resiliency to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.