Sign up
Trailer

Tarnation

2003Movie1 h 31 min

DocumentaryDrama
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic875.9Rotten Tomatoes93%82%
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic875.9Rotten Tomatoes93%82%

Summary

Filmmaker Jonathan Caouette's documentary on growing up with his schizophrenic mother -- a mixture of snapshots, Super-8, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, and more -- culled from 19 years of his life.

Good for

  • Friends night
  • Thought-provoking
  • Adults

Skip it if

  • You need an uplifting mood
  • You want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in any country yet.

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Cast

1 of 1

Crew

Directed by
Jonathan Caouette
Written by
Jonathan Caouette
Produced by
Stephen Winter, Jonathan Caouette
Music by
Lora Hirschberg, Jonathan Caouette

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 19, 2003 · 1 h 31 min · Disturbing Imagery

Released
October 19, 2003
Runtime
1 h 31 min
Content
Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Documentary, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$218
Box office
$1 million

Q&A

3 questions, like "Is Tarnation worth watching?"

Questions about Tarnation

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Tarnation worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 87). Critics rate it higher (90 out of 100) than audiences (71).

Can I half-watch Tarnation?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for non-linear narrative and 8 for meta narrative.

Is Tarnation plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.