It's not very often that I find myself receiving a film centered around the Down Syndrome world. It's even more rare that I receive two such films at one time, though that's what happened as we found ourselves getting closer to March's Down Syndrome Awareness Day. Unfortunately, my schedule betrayed me and I couldn't check out either one prior to the end of March. Fortunately, a long Easter weekend affords me the opportunity to finally check the films out. 

In Patrick Longstreth's award-winning Iron Family, Jazmine Faries is a 32-year-old woman with Down Syndrome. She's obsessed with soap operas, Barbie dolls, and Matthew McConaughey. Living in her hometown of Iron River Michigan, she's supported by her family for five summers in a row as she explores her creative side by staging original plays for small audiences. 

Iron Family would be an enjoyable film even if it were only about Jazmine's stage endeavors, however, along the way we see a young woman's push for independence, desire for romance, and how her creative endeavors build up the small community where she lives. 

The film picked up the Audience Award at Slamdance way back in 2022. Finally, in advance of Down Syndrome Awareness Day, the film will be able to reach a wider audience with a VOD release after a successful run on the indie fest circuit with additional screenings at Dances With Films, Richmond International Film Festival, Wisconsin Film Festival, Atlanta Underground Film Festival (where it won Best Documentary) and others. 

Iron Family is one of those indie docs that deserved a better fate cinematically. Emotionally satisfying and genuinely entertaining, Iron Family is inspirational in all the right ways with Longstreth, at least for the most part avoiding the easy to fall into inspiration porn in favor of a community spirit that often reminded me of Craig Gillespie's Lars and the Real Girl. Jazmine is a blast to watch on screen, while other characters are similarly compelling including her brother Chad, a co-producer on the film and a professor at Savannah State University. 

Iron River, Michigan (population 3,007) is an attractive little town in the UP where weather is always a factor, nature is always present, and being a community is both a source of happiness and a matter of survival. Iron Family reminds us of all these things while also shining light on the engaging Jazmine Faries and her desire for her piece of the good life. It's a winning film that you would do well to check out for yourself. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic