I grew up in Chicago and was 18 years old when the riots broke out there during the 1968 Democratic Convention. I didn't go down there because my Chicago Democrat father would have thrown me out of the house if I had gotten involved. So I saw the riots going on 8 miles from house on TV, while Haskell Wexler was down in the streets making a film about how the media was shaping my beliefs about the situation. I think that about sums up my "personal" relationship to Haskell Wexler. When I saw the film Medium Cool, my mind was altered forever. I eventually got a doctorate in communications research and I teach young people about the influence of media in their world and about how they can use the media to change the world.I sense that the mediocre rating of this film may be due to the fact that people could miss the absolute perfect symmetry of this film. They fail to see how the father forces the son into cinema verite mode (far away from the controlled format of the Smithsonian type of documentary that Mark was used to) and how the son accepts this and creates a film that the father can sign off on. There is a lot of truth in this film. Even if Mark's values do not mirror Haskell's, he is unafraid to expose his own feelings. And I get a sense that Haskell's influence on his son is more profound than he realizes through much of the film. Also, coming from my own lefty perspective, I found the exploration of a life well lived to be inspirational. This film has just surfaced on Sundance Channel in 2006 and if you are interested in finding some of the connecting threads in Haskell's life or are the sort of man who cried watching "Field of Dreams," it's well worth the watch.

I just rented the DVD from Netflix. My potential spoiler refers to a section in the special features section of the DVD.Haskell Wexler is a talented director of photography and an extreme left activist. His son's documentary does an excellent job in humanizing him to some extent. The review here by Filmotaku was excellent. It gave a great overview of this movie. What was even better on DVD is the extended interviews in the special features section. I can't stand Jane Fonda's political views, but her comments on her father and Haskell were informative and moving. The best part of the special features section has Haskell watching the completed movie. He is in tears at the end and tells his son that, he Mark, is a great filmmaker. Mark breaks down at that point and it is a very moving and honest moment, that probably made it all worthwhile for Mark. At that point Haskell signs the release form. A good way to finish.

A virtuoso effort.This documentary is one of the best I have ever seen even after the fifth viewing. "Tell them Who You Are" is about the great exploration of a father and son's troubled relationship. It also shows the professional side of Haskell Wexler and has great interviews with many famous stars telling their tales of working with him.Mark Wexler is truly a gifted filmmaker. He is, dare I say, much like his father in that he doesn't sugar coat any aspect of this film. It is a great film for all audiences.

I have just seen the film at Venezia Film Festival 2004. If it were still necessary this film proves how good documentaries are earning the place of Real Cinema comparing with so many bad fiction films. This is absolutely cinema, this is a story, emotions, narrative solutions, editing, whatever you may find in well done cinema. Also thanking Michael Moore we'll may able to see distributed films like this. But not only 'politically correct' documentaries: beautiful documentaries can have nothing to do with politics or strictly social matters. This film is an excellent example. If you like this kind of cinema go to IDFA Festival in Amsterdam where it's possible to see a real good selection of documentaries. 'Tell Them Who You Are' manages to picture the story of a legendary cinematographer and director, larger than life for a son who follows his steps. And the son probably manages to overcome his father, at least as director, realizing a light and intense portrait, never exceeding in autoindulgence or rethoric. Good for any audience and especially for Movie freaks.