A Documentary Lover's Treasure: Must Read After My Death

With a crisp and sharp New England accent the verbiage of a woman, a wife, and an intellectual in her own light, tells the story of a marriage and a life. Recently on the recommendation of a friend I purchased and viewed the documentary "Must Read After My Death," by: Morgan Dews.

Looking for closure or solutions to the everyday problems that a growing family faces, Allis, the true author of this record keeping masterpiece - tells it like it is. When the demands of Allis's husband Charly's work take him abroad for long spans of time, the use of recording devices seemed to be an idea that would keep a husband and wife - father and children in closer communication . I don't think that this is what she accomplished but the result of the process leaves behind a chilling grip on the reality that lies beyond many closed doors in our society. Speaking early on in her recordings she mentions her lack of interest in collecting these audios for posterity, but indeed does just that. All those who view this will come to know the cushioned chaos of an upper-middle class family revealed after the death of their matriarch. A lifetime of memories and secrets found in a shed labeled "Must Read After My Death."

This film leads my mind on a path through this family's life. A life that seems to explore an open relationship between a husband and wife in the 1950s and 1960s - an idea - which seems to me would have been extremely uncommon if not unheard of. The film's narrator discusses various psycho analysis' made of herself and her family. The intensity of this tale, although chilling does not involve much violence, there are no Hollywood style adventures or fairytales. Just an American family struggling to make things right in their world. Unfortunately, this story is one that is not unheard of, just most commonly not discussed. Not solely making Allis' family unique, just making them the whistle blowers and setting them apart due to other such families reluctance to expose such familiar chaos. It leads one to wonder what deductions can be made from the items found in their own shed…

Check this out.