THE KIDS GROW UP

In 51 Birch Street, one of the most highly praised personal documentaries of recent years, director Doug Block took a hard look at his parents’ marriage and his own relationship with his father. Now Block turns in the other direction, offering an exceptionally moving film about his relationship with his only child, Lucy.

The Kids Grow Up chronicles Lucy’s emotionally-fraught last year at home before leaving for college. Moving seamlessly between past, present, and the fast-approaching future, Block has not only crafted a loving portrait of a girl transitioning into womanhood, but also a deeply poignant look at parenting and what it means to let go.

This time of transition comes with its fair share of struggles. To his credit, Block does not shy away from these moments, nor from the  humorous yet occasionally tough analysis his wife offers. The result is a personal story told with such honesty and intimacy that a singular experience unfolds into a universal tale of parenthood, marriage, and family— making this a film that fathers, mothers, sons and daughters can equally appreciate.

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“Remarkable…a chronicle of ordinary life that is partly a scrapbook, partly a memoir and, most movingly, an essay on the passage of time and the mysterious connection between parents and children.”
– A. O. Scott, NEW YORK TIMES

“Intimate, funny, deeply affecting; The Kids Grow Up exemplifies personal filmmaking at its most truthful and absorbing. It’s wonderful.”
– Ann Hornaday, WASHINGTON POST

“Nakedly personal…profoundly universal.”
– Eric Hynes, VILLAGE VOICE

“Resonant and poignant…’Kids’ strikes more than a few deep chords.”
– Sheri Linden, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Pitch-perfect and frequently comic.”
– Anne S. Lewis, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE

Articles and Interviews:

New York Times - Article

The Guardian - Article

New York Daily News - Article

Tribeca Film Festival - Interview

Director: Doug Block
Producers: Lori Cheatle, Doug Block
Editor: Maeve O’Boyle
Composer: H. Scott Salinas