"Nuclear Family" (2021 release; 3 episodes of about 60 min each) is a documentary mini-series. As Episode 1 opens, Sandra Russo and Robin Young introduce themselves: "I'm your mother", Russo says to the interviewer (and director) Ry Russo-Young. "And I'm your mother too", adds Young. We then go back in time to 1979, as these ladies retell how they met and fell heads over heels for each other and very soon moved in together. Through two sperm donors, each of them has a baby girl. The sperm donors agree to waive all rights (and obligations)... At this point we are 10 min into the opening episode.
Couple of comments: this is the latest film from Ry Russo-Young ("Before I Fall", "The Sun Is Also a Star"). Here she examines her own life and background, being raised by two moms in the early 80s when that was anything but normal/accepted, even in New York. Both sperm donors are in California, and gave up all parenting and visitation rights, but as luck would have it, they are both on great terms with Russo and Young, and in particular Tom (biological father of Ry) develops strong a strong bond with Ry. What could possibly go wrong? This in turn leads to the question: who/what constitutes a family? Obviously the film maker has unfettered access to her moms, and the series (or at least Episode 1) plays out mostly from that perspective. I can't wait to see the remaining two episodes.
"Nuclear family" premiered last Sunday on HBO and Episode 1 is now available on HBO on Demand, HBO Max and other streaming platforms. New episodes air on Sunday evenings at 10 pm Eastern time. If you have any interest in LGTBQ and related social issues, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
