The unwavering and emotionally powerful documentary Tre Maison Dasan was my top pick from the World Premieres at the 2018 San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM) – and you can finally watch on TV this weekend. The title reflects the names of three Rhode Island boys with incarcerated parents. Unfettered by talking heads, Tre Maison Dasan invites us along with these kids as they interact with their families – both on the outside and the inside. It’s all about the kids, all of the time – an effective choice by writer-director Denali Tiller In her feature debut.
One of the parents is released from prison early in the film; the other two are going to stay there during critical developmental periods in their children’s lives. Tre, Maison and Dasan are each taking different paths. One kid is getting wonderful nurturing and guidance from a released parent, and lots of support from the community; we sense that he’s going to be OK. That’s not the case with all of the kids.
Tiller doesn’t get academic or partisan. By simply showing the impact on these children of having a parent incarcerated, she gets our attention and sympathy. Tre Maison Dasan may not be a call to action in itself, but it’s an essential predicate. PBS is airing Tre Maison Dasan on its Independent Lens series on April 1; you’ll also be able to stream it on PBS.