Tarnation

Name: Tarnation
Genre: Documentary
Released: October 6, 2004
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 87
Cast: Jonathan Caouette

2004

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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7.1

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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Tarnation

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Movie Details & Credits

Wellspring Media | Release Date: October 6, 2004 | Unrated

Starring: Jonathan Caouette

Summary: Jonathan Caouette's film reimagines the whole idea of what a documentary can be. He weaves a psychedelic whirlwind of snapshots, Super-8 home movies, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of 80s pop culture and dramatic reenactments to create an epic portrait of an American family torn apart by dysfunctionJonathan Caouette's film reimagines the whole idea of what a documentary can be. He weaves a psychedelic whirlwind of snapshots, Super-8 home movies, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of 80s pop culture and dramatic reenactments to create an epic portrait of an American family torn apart by dysfunction and reunited through the power of love. (Wellspring Media)… Expand

Director: Jonathan Caouette

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 88 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

J. Hoberman

A tale of sadness and hysteria so raw that it bleeds. Read full review

100

Meredith Brody

It's something of a masterpiece: a confessional experimental documentary with echoes, both conscious and unconscious, of filmmakers from Andy Warhol to John Cassavetes, Stan Brakhage to David Lynch. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Layering soundtrack and visuals in an intricate collage of rich emotional texture, he (Jonathan Caouette) displays an exhilarating talent. Read full review

Jami Bernard

Tarnation represents a breakthrough in the possibilities of the personal film as a mix of poetry and journalism. It's also harrowing as hell. Read full review

Peter Rainer

By all odds, Tarnation should have been an unwatchable, masochistic morass, but Caouette's love for the broken Renee--which is the true subject of the film--is awe-inspiring. Read full review

Walter Addiego

An impassioned documentary about a damaged American family, includes moments that seem to cross the line of what is emotionally acceptable to show onscreen. Read full review

Shawn Levy

I reckon that for everyone who's enthralled by the film there will be others who wish they'd heard about it rather than seen it. Read full review

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User Reviews

joomjim4

Jun 18, 2012

This is the film I gaurantee you have never ever seen before and unavoidably, will stuck in your head for the rest of your life. The most powerful and inspirational piece of documentary feature and is considered,personally, to be the true triumph of the film's world.
[Harrowing, Hopeful,This is the film I gaurantee you have never ever seen before and unavoidably, will stuck in your head for the rest of your life. The most powerful and inspirational piece of documentary feature and is considered,personally, to be the true triumph of the film's world.
[Harrowing, Hopeful, Remarkable, Masterpiece!]… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Scarlet

Mar 8, 2006

It was one of the best documenterys I've seen in a while plus it got my grade in school out of the trash can.