X
  • 2004
  • Unrated
  • Wellspring Media
  • 1 h 28 m
  • 2004
  • Unrated
  • Wellspring Media
  • 1 h 28 m

Summary Jonathan Caouette's film reimagines the whole idea of what a documentary can be. He weaves a psychedelic whirlwind of snapshots, Super-8 home movies, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of 80s pop culture and dramatic reenactments to create an epic portrait of an American family torn apart by dysfunctio...

Directed By: Jonathan Caouette

Written By: Jonathan Caouette

  • 2004
  • Unrated
  • Wellspring Media
  • 1 h 28 m
  • 2004
  • Unrated
  • Wellspring Media
  • 1 h 28 m

Tarnation

Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 32 Critic Reviews
must-see
87
User Score Mixed or Average Based on 15 User Ratings
6.0
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary Jonathan Caouette's film reimagines the whole idea of what a documentary can be. He weaves a psychedelic whirlwind of snapshots, Super-8 home movies, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of 80s pop culture and dramatic reenactments to create an epic portrait of an American family torn apart by dysfunctio...

Directed By: Jonathan Caouette

Written By: Jonathan Caouette

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 32 Critic Reviews
87
94% Positive
30 Reviews
6% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 32 Critic Reviews
87
94% Positive
30 Reviews
6% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
It is a remarkable film, immediate, urgent, angry, poetic and stubbornly hopeful.
By Roger Ebert FULL REVIEW
100
Caouette has used art, wit and a huge heart to forge his experiences into an unqualified masterpiece.
By Lou Lumenick FULL REVIEW
90
A remarkable and remarkably compelling document.
By Kenneth Turan FULL REVIEW
88
The movie is such an intense, disturbing and exhilarating experience, even five more minutes might have felt like too much.
By Rene Rodriguez FULL REVIEW
80
In this case, the subject and director are one and the same, and the result is a degree of intimacy--really of rawness--rarely achieved in film.
FULL REVIEW
75
An impassioned documentary about a damaged American family, includes moments that seem to cross the line of what is emotionally acceptable to show onscreen.
FULL REVIEW
58
I reckon that for everyone who's enthralled by the film there will be others who wish they'd heard about it rather than seen it.
By Shawn Levy FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 15 User Ratings
6.0
53% Positive
8 Ratings
20% Mixed
3 Ratings
27% Negative
4 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 15 User Ratings
6.0
53% Positive
8 Ratings
20% Mixed
3 Ratings
27% Negative
4 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Tarnation Films, Wellspring Media
Release Date Oct 6, 2004
Duration 1 h 28 m
Rating Unrated
Genres
Tagline Your greatest creation is the life you lead
Website https://www.hoperunshighfilms.com/tarnation
View All Details

Awards

Chlotrudis Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Cannes Film Festival
• 2 Nominations
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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