Prodigal Sons

All families have their ups and downs, but few match the tumult that filmmaker Kimberly Reed met when she returned to her hometown of Helena, MT, for a high school reunion. Reed was not the same person who left Helena 20 years earlier—back then she was the school's star quarterback, Paul McKerrow. In the intervening years, in addition to Kimberly's transformation, her older adopted brother, Marc, suffered severe head injuries in a tragic car accident that left him prone to seizures and violent outbursts. While Kim anticipated that her attempt to mend her long-strained relationship with Marc would be difficult, she was not expecting the astonishing discovery of Marc's biological heritage—he's the illegitimate son of Rebecca Welles, daughter of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. After learning this news, Marc and Kimberly travel to Croatia to meet Oja Kodar, the actress and filmmaker who was Orson's collaborator and muse during his later years. Kimberly also has another brother named Todd, who is gay, and the combination of gay and transgender siblings brings forth a terrifying outburst from Marc. With its mix of mental health concerns, gender identity issues, and movie royalty, Prodigal Sons is a compelling record of family friction taken to unexpected and often tragic extremes. DVD extras include an update on the McKerrow family, and a Q&A with author Rick Moody. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)