Directed by Chris Smith, though ultimately commandeered by the old indie filmmaker himself, Sr is the latest warm Netflix documentary with a runtime of 90 minutes produced by Robert Downey Jr and Susan Downey. Recounting the life of his late father, Robert Downey Sr, also a pioneering filmmaker of the ’60s and his eventual descent into the devastating Parkinson’s disease, the actor builds up his legacy with a personal touch and pays a tribute to him by putting him in front of the camera this time.
Netflix’s official synopsis of the documentary reads:
Robert Downey Jr. pays tribute to his late father in this documentary chronicling the life and eclectic career of pioneering filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. The film features Downey Jr., Alan Arkin, Paul Thomas Anderson, Norman Lear and Sean Hayes.
-Sr Review Does Not Contain Spoilers-
Shot in black and white, the chronicle of the avant garde, rebellious filmmaker’s life reflects the image of his old movies. As we head into the lives of the Downey family, we watch the preparations for the documentary unfold in front of us simultaneously. The titular character or subject of the film had plans of developing his version of the film to draw parallels between the two, thus letting us in to his filmmaking vision, while depicting the candid relationship between the father-son duo, connected through the art process since the beginning.
His filmography is charted out in the initial half as both the counterparts of the duo deliver their pieces of interpretation of each with Robert Downey Jr admitting the he grew up amidst the “cacophony of creativity” before both of them got caught up in the vicious trap of drug use.
The most respectable aspect of this discussion is that even though not a lot of screen time is accorded for this issue and its background to open up, both of them openly admit their vehement distaste for having wavered from their life paths due to the same. It’s not romanticised, it’s just said as it is and was, a painful experience, and the elder Downey acknowledges his responsibility in the act.
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A constant stillness pervades the film’s vision, speaking for one’s existence in the world – something that even Downey Jr points out towards the end. Without isolating his life spent as a father or a filmmaker, it brings up all the bits of those chapters. The downfall into drug consumption isn’t brought out into the light much either or circled around a lot because as Jr states, there was “no overt agenda” in fulfilling this project, except that it eventually becomes his medium of healing and mechanism for coping.
Although, while keeping that in mind, the relationship between Downey Jr and his son is highlighted upon even during the former’s interaction with his therapist. Thus, pointing out that their bond sparks a supportive link, as opposed to what happened during the actor’s former years of life. Nevertheless, the documentary’s aim is not to portray his grudging agenda against his father, but is instead built on the positive outlook of life going on and one moving on with it, as is also summed up by the final song choice as credits start to roll out.
Sr: Worth the Watch?
As far as documentaries are concerned, Netflix has been releasing an endless load of them recently, following real-life mysteries or court case, but with Sr, it takes a rather soft-hearted, as well as much-needed turn. Bits of heartwarming familial exchanges and the mundane real-life comedy arising out of them makes the portrayal even more personal.
The titular maverick filmmaker had to live through the ravages of the severely harsh disease, the Parkison’s, and if you’ve witnessed a loved one go through a similar experience first-hand, then the closing moments of his story will be just as much of an emotional blow to you. Most significantly, since the film has been produced by his son, the man we all know as our age’s Iron Man, a personal baggage comes in with the storytelling methods, which either wouldn’t have made it into the final cut, or would’ve been probed too much into, if an objective outsider were to make it.
The tonal differences in all three Downey generations and their relationships with each other are brought onscreen. The elder Downey constantly proclaims his love for New York and how it could never fit in with the familiar universality of Los Angeles, while his younger counterpart is evidently a product of the commercial society that his father never bowed down to, even for what one would call to seek validation for his craft.
Perhaps what makes the film a success in the end is the fact that it covers a large ground from his son’s perspective. It doesn’t exceedingly dig into the old wounds of their ties with drug consumption, rather focuses on moving forward without holding any ill sentiments about anything. Moreover, it doesn’t single out his directorial trajectory either, but is a blend of it all that he and his family faced, awaiting the inevitable end that leaves us with the stark image of his empty bed that was once occupied by a personality who would throw in a one-liner to light up the room.
Sr is now streaming on Netflix.
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