Paternal Rites is a first-person essay film that examines the secret underbelly of a contemporary Jewish American family as they grapple with the aftereffects of physical and sexual abuse on their present-day lives. It is also a groundbreaking film about the nature of trauma and memory itself: the ways in which trauma encrypts in uncanny ways; the function of speech and narrative in the process of decryption; and the role of film and filmmaking in the practice of healing. Paternal Rites draws inspiration from podcasts like This American Life and Radiolab and the long lineage of LGBT essay filmmakers in the U.S. such as Jenni Olson, Marlon Riggs, and Richard Fung.

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A young queer/trans Latinx soars Home to connect with his grandma, his culture, and his identity through enchiladas. A Filipina mother and daughter duo take an uncertain journey toward acceptance in Introspection. For a young Muslim woman and her Christian friend, a benevolent Call To Prayer becomes a beacon for healing. A Love Letter to Queer Black Womyn vanquishes trauma on a journey toward healing. Bi/Black/Body/Bliss is a blazing emblem for plus-sized, queer, African/Indigenous ancestry often rejected by the world. My Femme Is A Reflection that is emblazoned with tender duty on an Asian survivor's spirit. A luminous trans Latina woman warrior reveals her bravery in La Entrevista. Running toward the feminine begins Breaking Frailty Myths and releases a Black woman's abilities. A Korean-American woman summons The Courage To Be and masterminds a plan to create her authentic self. A queer Black woman's comedic reclaiming of "crazy" and the perilous climb toward healing. Through nurturing Puerto Rican food, Marco Territorio and female masculinity come to the rescue. Three heroic queer women of color affirm mind, body, and spirit to Take Care of themselves. When the world is full of despair, the buoyant passion of Supa Gallo Pinto saves the day. While some are powerless against perception, Smokey emerges into a vision for a different world. Determined not to let anything get in her way, a daredevil queer Latina leaps over obstacles in Un Buen Dia. Queer and trans people of color transmute intimacy into Az‚àö‚à´car.

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Just after Isidore moves to France to study filmmaking, his best friend dies back in the US. Through documentary, performance, and animation, a ghostly portrait emerges, prompting Isidore to question his relationships with his parents and his boyfriend in Paris. Isidore Bethel's film is a haunting meditation on loss, love, and the ability to move on in the face of tragedy.

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