Film Review - Danielson: a Family Movie
Starring Danielson Famile and Sufjan Stevens | Directed by JL Aronson | Image Entertainment DVD NR FF 105min 2006
Review By Juliet
This documentary traces the band Danielson Famile from its humble beginnings as Daniel Smith and his siblings make music together to accompany his senior thesis at art school. We follow the family as they embark on American and then European tours all the while growing up and growing as a band to include spouses, children, and friends. One such friend is singer/songwriter, Sufjan Stevens, who at the beginning of the documentary was as unknown as the Danielson Famile. As the band grows and changes, Daniel struggles to adapt his musical vision and identity. A large part of this struggle has to do with the fact that the Danielson Famile began playing at churches and Christian gatherings, and though their music is not nessecarily “Christian Rock,” they were often labeled as such, limiting their audience. Conversely, Sufjan Stevens, was able to break into the indie rock market with huge acclaim despite his similar Christian roots.
You don’t have to be a fan of the Danielson Famile to enjoy this film, although by the end of it you may find yourself heading to your local record store to pick up one of their cds….maybe. Or maybe you’ll find yourself wondering how music like this could warrant enough popularity to make a documentary about it. Either way, the subject matter makes for an interesting viewing. Daniel, Sufjan, and the other members of the family are warm and quirky, seeming to invite the viewer to get to know them better.
In addition to the documentary proper, the DVD is packed with several hours worth of extras including director’s commentary, Danielson Famile music videos, interview footage with Daniel and Sufjan, and extended scenes of the live performances featured in the documentary. There are also trailers, a photo gallery, and fan interviews. So if you choose to buy this one, you’ll definitely be getting your money’s worth.
Overall, I’d say the average viewer may want to stick to renting this one. However, for fans of documentaries and/or music fans looking to expand their horizons, this is definitely worth a buy.