In the Family is a documentary film about predicting breast and ovarian cancer, the consequences of knowing, and the women who live with the risk. Beginning with her story of testing positive for the familial breast cancer mutation (BRCA), Filmmaker Joanna Rudnick chronicles the lives of several women currently undergoing the process of genetic testing – following them from their decision to seek testing, through the testing process, and in the aftermath when they are coming to terms with the information they receive. These stories of the first generation of women to live with the knowledge that they are predisposed to a life-threatening disease will teach us what it means to survive a diagnosis of high risk without being consumed or defined by it. They will help us to understand the psychological, legal, ethical, cultural and social complexities of genetic testing for a mutation, which affects the entire family, for which there is no cure, and wherein the only treatments currently available involve enormous quality-of-life sacrifices. Visit official site
83 minutes
In the Family on the hill, part deux
July 14, 2008
The In the Family crew just returned from another busy trip to Washington DC. The group held a productive and thought-provoking Outreach Summit, met with Obama’s office to help get the word out about the recent passage of GINA, presented at the Genetic Alliance National Conference and screened the film to great audiences at two screenings at the E Street Cinemas. Read an article covering the visit in the Washington Post Express.
In the Family (Sneak Preview) (DVD)
Copies available for a limited time
$19.95
“If the measure of a good film is that you’re still thinking about it days later, then In the Family is the best movie I’ve seen all year.”
—Sommer Mathis, DCist.com
Silverdocs Film Festival – In Competition, 2008
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival – Official Selection, 2008
2008 Broadcast on P.O.V. on PBS
Chesapeake Bay Film Festival – Official Selection, 2008