In My Father's House

In 2012, Grammy- and Oscar-winning rapper and songwriter Che “Rhymefest” Smith bought his father's childhood home in Chicago's South Side in order to house his growing family. The purchase triggers a curious longing that leads Smith to try to reconnect with his long-estranged father, Brian, a homeless alcoholic still living in the neighborhood. Filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg's affecting documentary chronicles that bittersweet process of reconciliation. Smith sets his father on a path to sobriety, slowly embracing him as a member of the family once again, but the grips of addiction and resentment can be hard to break. Smith also has to deal with repercussions from past indiscretions that have subconscious roots in Brian's absence from his life. Stern and Sundberg weave Smith's story into a larger commentary on the vital roles that fathers play in the lives of their children, the definition of manhood, and the long-lasting detrimental effects of paternal abandonment, particularly in the African-American community. Smith is vocal about these issues, raising awareness both in his music and in his roles as a youth counselor and radio talk show host. Smith's advocacy makes him a positive role model for his father, family, and community, and the uplifting footage of his work here is just as compelling as the family drama. Recommended. (P. Morehart)