The Death of My Two Fathers

Director: Sol Guy 
Country: USA 
Duration: 86’ minutes 
Year: 2021 
Language: English 
Category: Family/Whanau 
Category Sponsor: Rei Foundation
Topics: Family, Society

Can the lessons of a father teach the child how not to make the same mistakes? 

Director Sol Guy took 20 years before watching the tapes his father recorded shortly before his death in 1998. They detail how a black man from Kansas City, Missouri arrived in a small town in British Columbia, Canada, determined to make a better life for his new family.  

This proved to be cathartic and an unforgettable contemplation of race, death, and the importance of family. Guy reflects on his life and his family and sets off on a journey to better understand his own family, and his Black American roots, as he confronts the choices his father made.  

The film is an exploration of the meaning of family and a metaphor for how our human family must reconcile with our painful past if we hope to survive. 

The vulnerability of Sol and William's intimate testimonials are a gift to those who listen, in this critical moment of reflection and opportunity for meaningful change.
Alexander Rogalski, Hot Docs