Jan

18

Prodigal Sons

January 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment

I saw the documentary “Prodigal Sons” on Saturday, and it is quite remarkable.

If you grew up in Helena in the mid-80s, you might remember the name Paul McKerrow – he was the star quarterback for the Bengals, co-valedictorian, and BMOC in general. His brother Marc – adopted just a year before Paul was born – graduated with him, and younger brother Todd came along a year later.

The movie tells an intriguing tale: Paul returns to Helena in 2005 for his high school’s 20-year reunion, but he returns as Kimberly Reed, having complete gender-reassignment surgery and now living life as a woman. He is re-introduced to brother Marc, who suffered a car accident years ago, had part of his brain removed due to seizures, and is now suffering from bizarre mood swings and mental illness. Todd is now living in San Diego as an architect.

Turns out that Helena seems pretty blase about Paul’s’ transformation into Kimberly – there was no sign (in the movie, anyway) about any discrimination or hostility.

During the course of the movie, Marc discovers who his birth mother is: Rebecca. Sadly, he learns this just days before she passes away, and sees her for the only time in his life in her casket at her funeral.

And then comes arguably the biggest surprise of the movie: Rebecca was the daughter of cinema icon Orson Welles and actress Rita Hayworth: Marc is the grandson of Orson Welles, and the physical resemblance is uncanny.

If you have the opportunity to see “Prodigal Sons,” it is highly recommended. Might want to bring a hankie.


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