The Brainwashing of My Dad (2015) Poster

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8/10
Great documentary
Gjdangelo30 January 2020
Excellent depiction of how negative news and propaganda from certain networks( fox in this instance) can have a huge impact on the disposition of people that constantly watch these networks. The constant stream of negative and nonsense news that is produced by fox in particular Create anger and divisiveness in our society. These networks pray on uninformed elderly people especially, and provide them with a dystopian view of the world.
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7/10
Entertaining intro to right-wing media methods... tho with flawed overview assumptions
rzajac7 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I felt torn after watching this flick. On one hand, it's a not-half-bad way to get introduced to the history and methods of right-wing media. For my money, Manufacturing Consent is better, but "Brainwashing" gets some of the job done, fairly effectively.

But something niggled at me after watching. I needed time to further metabolize my experience and nail down my remonstrances. Luckily, my subconscious mind did it's usual dependable voodoo, and I feel I can now tell you what it is that takes some "stars" away from my rating.

It's this: The movie fails to show the real cure for what it was that ailed the titular Dad of this story.

It ends by describing how the family eventually weaned "Dad" away from right-wing media, and toward more positive social/civic messaging. And, by story's end, Dad seems to have brightened up and appears to be in a better place.

But... why does this not feel like a happy resolution/"positive takeaway" for me?

It fails because it doesn't show the true cure for what ailed Dad. The true cure is an abiding, (small-'r') republican concern for decent governance. These days, I would call this a healthy, life-affirming stoicism. At the beginning of the story the Dad is a dupe for negative emotional oversimplification; at the end he's dupe for positive emotional oversimplification.

The name of the game is to not be a dupe, of *any* stripe.

I remember when I first heard Rush Limbaugh. I heard him for about 20 minutes on a commute to an office gig, driving an old Dodge Colt that only had AM radio. I found him entertaining enough on that first exposure. So I turned him on again on my next commute. It was either on that second exposure, or maybe by my third, that my stoic self sat up and took notice: Rush had no real civic sensibility. I eventually would have needed to hear that he had his feet solidly on the ground of civic engagement and factual awareness. But I began to notice that his exposition was like a swiss cheese riddled with holes, where those holes are various and sundry dodges and tricks of emotional oversimplification that I was supposed to metabolize as an abiding concern for the American republic, but which I recognized for the sham they were. I probably didn't listen to him a fourth time, done with him after a week.

The film can't give us an image of a Dad who's become more truly circumspect and stoically engaged with the world around him... which is what's fundamental to the promise of sustainable (small-'r') republicanism. It can't give us that image probably because the Dad never figures that out.

Not the best resolution to the key issue, by my way of evaluating these things.

Which is why I can't really recommend this movie, or might give it a hedged recommendation.

I recommend the writings of Chomsky and Herman if you want to understand how right-wing media works. As mentioned above, the Canadian production of the "Manufacturing Consent" movie is a pretty decent way to get a fairly comprehensive overview of the issues broached by the book(s).
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8/10
It's a must see documentary for everyone.
MehdiTaba24 March 2022
It's not from a major production company and it's independent, so you have to consider this.

This documentary is about something that is extremely relevant and important these days. Rise of the right-wing media and its effect.

Jen Senko tries to describe her journey with his dad about this phenomenal.

This toxic issue is there, so alive and dangerous. I lived it and I know how right-wing media can brainwash someone so easily and turn someone ordinary into a fanatic, bitter, hateful machine as my dad is now and caused us to be separated forever and my mum and him got divorced. So I know what I'm talking about.

The Brainwashing of My Dad is well-made, well-narrated and edited.

Lots of moments are striking and thought-provocative.

8.3/10.
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10/10
A very personal documentary for me
garlandhook5 February 2018
I fell under the spell of conservative talk radio when I was out of college and working as a delivery driver. I was bitter and angry that the 4-year liberal arts degree I worked hard to obtain was seemingly worthless. As academia had failed to deliver success, I was eager to find and alternate worldview: looking for something to believe in, or, a purpose. Neil boortz, Michael savage, and bill o'reilly were my guides on this fruitless journey. Their rhetoric was effective because they (1) created an enemy: either enemies to prosperity (lazy welfare dependents, illegal immigrants), or enemies to security (radical Muslims): basically, people I could feel superior to. (2) "real listeners" calling in to share their victimization from political correct "social engineering" (3) the hosts' unwavering confidence and focused message, which is amplified by talking over those people who call in with alternate viewpoints. According to this documentary, these tactics are commonly employed by right-wing talk shows and foxnews (great collage of fox news "journalists" shouting over their guests to prevent them from expressing their ideas). How did I manage to give this up? A combination of things: my parents always had fox news on in the house and I grew annoyed at the lack of critical thinking and one-sidedness. I found that my media choices were putting me in a category of people who deferred to their tribal mentality than think critically. I began to see these media hosts more as propagandists than informed critics (Michael Savage's assertion that Obama attended an "Islamic Madrassas" in Indonesia--a country I had some personal knowledge of--was laughable). This documentary was enjoyable as it helped me understand how my political identity went on a certain path for a brief time
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Two stories, a very important one, and a kind of family one 9/10
bruce-1291 April 2016
Firstly, this movie was excellent in terms of getting Americans to start thinking about the media, ideas, rhetoric and emotional tone we are steeped in on a daily basis. I have been more and more disappointed in the media since the mid-80's, but especially since the 90's forward.

This documentary tells us why, and surprise, it is almost the same as everything else in this country and the world that have gone sour ... the political prioritizing of having every facet of our society taking over by money, corporations and billionaires. This movie does a good job of covering that in a broad sense. I always thought it really hit home when they struck down the "Fairness Doctrine" which I think we desperately need in the media if we are to foster a culture where people can think for themselves ... because otherwise what goes freedom or speech mean if all we can do is parrot someone else's words?

The weaker part of this documentary, and the reason I could not award it a 10/10 is the story of the family and the Dad who turned into a right- winger. We don't really get any clear sequence of events leading to the documentarian's father and what he was like, what drove him, what changed him and what ultimately changed him back.

By the time he is interviewed it is clear he has some kind of dementia, and pieces of his conversation are being cherry picked to back the narrative of his "brainwashing". I have had relatives too that have this same problem. The turning of one's thoughts into right wing anger is very depressing when you like someone and all they can do is to push their ideas that they get from radio or FOX News without any critical thinking at all.

I didn't feel it was very nice or respectful to turn one's father into a puppet for the making of a documentary, particularly if there is no real proof or theory as to how he got to where he was. They speculated it was the long drives to work listening to the captive audience of drivers alone in their cars. But many jobs themselves have pressures for people to either buy into right wing rhetoric, or to remain silent about criticizing those who criticize. For me there were many reasons not to appreciate the story of the father.

I also was a bit disappointed to hear certain left wing websites recommended as the cure for these right wing sites. The whole problem is that only people who agree with each other are on specific sites, so many of the Left wing sites are just as bad as right wing sites ... they just do not have as many and as much money. But the intolerable part of both sides is that it is impossible for anyone who does not want to argue and name-call to participate in these forums ... which we should be able to do, and our form of government really demands.

I don't know there are any answers here, but there are some suggestions and a lot of thought provoking information, which is great. We need more of this kind of documentary. I recommend this documentary and that all Americans begin to understand how their country has been evolved around them to cut most of them out from knowing what is going on and what they should do about it.

10/10
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6/10
Brings to Light a Definite Problem Here in America
Uriah436 July 2020
This documentary explores the impact that the right-wing media has had upon American politics and culture with one particular family being showcased in detail. In essence, due to certain restraints being removed from radio and television broadcasting, a newly energized brand of conservative populism was unleashed-first on talk radio, and then on television with Fox News. To that effect, the more heated dialogue resulted in more anger among the viewers which in turn caused even more heated dialogue and thereby even more anger. This divisiveness was then used by the Republican Party to secure gains in the elections at both the local, state and national level which has resulted in policy initiatives intended to benefit that particular party to the exclusion of everybody else. Now rather than revealing any more I will just say that the main points brought out in this documentary are factually correct--as is the damage brought upon this nation because of the resulting bitterness, anger and hatred. Unfortunately, although this film reveals several problems the right-wing media has created, what it fails to do is to provide an answer to any of them. Along with that, there were times when the overall theme seemed to lose focus as it drifted from one family dynamic to another. Likewise, I also thought that the childish tone on the part of the narrator was completely unnecessary as well. In any case, while certainly not a top-level documentary, this film does a good job of bringing to light a definite problem here in America and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
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10/10
The Personal is the Political
savvysound4 March 2016
The personal story of filmmaker Jen Senko's dad is a cautionary tale many of us can relate to. And it's directly related - we learn - to the disinformation coming from the Right Wing media that has driven so much political acrimony in this country. In fact, the fanatical political divisions in the US are the same ones that divide families on a personal level. By following the thread of American politics and how it relates to the rise of the Right Wing media, Senko builds a solid case. We learn how and why all of this came about.

There have been other films that examined the subject of the Right Wing Media and its negative effects on democracy, but they tend to be dry treatises.

This should be required viewing for anyone who cares about a free and informative media in this country. An important film. And an entertaining one!
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7/10
Doesn't cover new ground-I wish the focus was more personal.
CubsandCulture30 August 2022
Starting around 2005 (IIRC) there was a spate of documentaries talking about the toxic influence of right-wing media in America. Outfoxed-a fullthroated attack on Fox News-is the earliest one I can recall seeing. I have watched several of the films. The information and history presented is largely the same. This one doesn't add anything new or novel to the explanation of the problem. It's only saving grace is the personal story of a daughter trying to reach her father.

This story forms the framing device and emotional core of the film and it is the easiest the best part of it but there are long sections of explanatory material. It would have been nice to seen some of the father's rightwing rants and the like. But the messier family scenes are only described. The film is curiously distanced from criticizing the father all that much. The notion that he-or others-elected to be "brainwashed" never comes up. I am sure some rightwing blowhards are actually deluded. But a lot them at in fact trolls-who delight in bad faith and know they are spewing nonsense.

I feel like this film would have been better had the director been a friend of the family.
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10/10
Film lays bare Fox News
fcausey-213 March 2016
As she did in THE VANISHING CITY, Jen has delivered another great feature documentary film that is timely, smart, cogent, and incredibly thoughtful. THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD is an important film that all Americans should see so they can understand the intentional manipulation of their minds by the free market ideologues who bought media outlets right and left to masquerade their so-called cause as patriotic, intentionally playing on the patriotism of well intentioned folks like Jen's father. FOX NEWS was never conceived as a real news organization dedicated to informing the public. Instead FOX NEWS was born out of an abundance of cynicism, and as nothing more than a shill machine for those bent on seeking monolithic political power and the insane profits, their real aim, that result. All of this at the expense of the rest of us.
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10/10
Fox News trick's exposed!
kyriazi8 March 2016
Using her dad as an example, Filmmaker Jen Senko, who wondered how her Democrat father had become a Fox News fan, exposes the tricks behind the right-wing media. In discovering what happened to him, Senko reveals the bigger picture of what's happening behind-the-scenes to influence our national discourse.

I was attracted to this documentary because I've had discussions with my own parents and friends who think Fox New is a News Station. People have become fearful and quote Fox News like it's journalism.

I can't believe their slogans: 'fair and balanced' and 'we report you decide' because to suggest that these slogans are behind FOX News is ridiculous. Yea Jen!
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1/10
Shameful
timlin-414 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This documentary is very low quality and borderline unwatchable. It might be acceptable if were made by a middle school student, though a schoolgirl would have been more conscientious, and also wouldn't have scammed people out of money to make it. The historical footage and visual effects are low quality and silly, and the original interviews of Democrat partisans lack any insight. Of course media manipulation could be a valid topic, but if you prove that "conspiracy theories" are planted by corporations to get people to vote "against their interests" for Republicans with a clip of corporate-backed Hillary Clinton pointing her finger at a "vast right-wing conspiracy" you need to straighten out your thinking.

The title is really a bait-and-switch, since there is more analysis of Limbaugh and Fox News, which are very stale topics at this point, than of the director's father. The only examples of his "brainwashing" presented are that he thought the government should encourage people get jobs and that waitresses shouldn't be arrested for immodest clothing, which are neither extremist or even particularly conservative positions. It wouldn't be surprising for a retiree to become grumpy and fixated on a topic, but Senko's accusations against her father are left at the level of innuendo. After its various pointless digressions and pretensions of academic thoroughness the movie does return to the subject to show footage of her father, now confused and childish as his mind has deteriorated to such an extent that he doesn't notice that his wife has deviously blocked TV channels and his email subscriptions. The smugness of mother and daughter at achieving this "cure" is almost a reason to watch the movie. Nothing reported second-hand in even the most vehement right-wing media can come close to demonstrating how vile and irredeemable leftist nuts are compared to their own personal accounts.
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9/10
The visible and invisible manipulations of the right wing media machine
trez120 March 2016
This film should be required viewing for all U.S. voters for they will understand just how insidious, wide ranging and effective the right wing media machine (e.g., Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, conservative talk radio etc.)has been on the cultural landscape for the past 20 years.

Beyond the expected debunking of what we know is a sham -- Fox New's "Fair and Balanced" misreporting and Limbaugh's outlandish comments -- Ms. Senko's film takes us beyond the dictated talking points of Fox President's Roger Ailes to something much deeper and chilling.

The skill of these propagandists and their toxic effect on ordinary citizens (as seen through the lens of her own father) is an eye opener. The ending was especially moving. See it for yourself.
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10/10
Blew me away!
sunshineandseashells4 March 2016
It reminded me of Michael Moore's films but in some ways even better! Because it is the personal experience of the director's father and family. Who are quite likable. Very true to life. It is after all a documentary. I loved the ending which I won't give away. But was thoroughly impressed by the history leading up to changes in journalism and the experts on the film. David Brock was instrumental in this piece by being evidence of the information stated. Jeff Cohen and Noam Chomsky? How can you go wrong there among many more experts. Also love the cartoon spots which made it fun. Go see this movie. You won't be sorry!
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9/10
Insightful look at our culture
greg-2662531 December 2015
I rated this movie 9 rather than 10 because it's got a few imperfections but non of those blemishes effect the core story in the least. Jen interviews some amazing philosophers and some of the people who actually manipulated our culture to show us why we are where we are right now.

Jen shares with us a story involving her own family; her mother and siblings observed changes in her fathers behavior and she explores the causes of those changes. This isn't a minor thing, this gets to the heart of some very important social issues we're seeing around us right now; xenophobia, fear, patriotism and personal conflict. She gives us insight into some of the drivers behind these emotions and why they might be pushing our culture in a specific direction (that some of do not like at all).

The best part? She leaves us with hope and that's worth quite a lot.
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1/10
I literally had to stop the movie three times to keep my head from exploding by the sheer hypocrisy
sugaphist13 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is so one sided it will make your head spin. I wonder how in an age of mass communication such a documentary could be made. I don't watch Fox and hardly ever listen to Rush but JFC this movie would make you think them and the collective right is the Anti-Christ. The same can be said of right wing radio and TV but this is just as ridiculous with a left POV. I literally had to stop the movie three times to keep my head from exploding by the the sheer hypocrisy. Bonus is David Brock complaining about conservatives being allowed opinions in op-eds. 🤔 People being allowed opinions other than mine that's absurd. God bless America folks.
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9/10
Terrific documentary that explains SO much about our country today
aswygert10 February 2018
This was released three years ago, but it is more relevant in 2018 than ever before. Great history and explanation of why our country is so divided and what gave rise to a President that can spew lies and hate and it makes no difference to his supporters. It seems that half of our country is now brainwashed.

It is quite apparent that those who gave this movie low marks are among the brainwashed. How do we deprogram a nation???
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9/10
Thoughtful and compassionate
midian0913 May 2017
I came across this on Amazon Prime. I thought that this documentary was informative, thoughtful and compassionate whilst exploring the creation of the fierce and angry media machine that supports the right wing political machine. It shows the triumph of capital over humanitarian values through the lens of the writer/director's personal family struggle; it shows the toll on her family and others simply and clearly.

I think someone called the machine's proponents "faeces-chuckers" at one point - this elicited a childish giggle from me but it was also a beautifully illustrative example as their stuff sticks, even when patently nonsense or false.

I kept hearing about how strange Fox news is but, as I am in the UK, I was unaware just how uninformative their 'news' actually is. It was really eye-opening (eye-popping even) learning how the process of 'brainwashing' works and its payoffs. It was fascinating and has deepened my understanding of how people become so heartless and why they think that this is a good thing.

Bringing what I watched up to date, it is a bit scary thinking that Fox News want to bring this extreme brand of disinformation to the UK - as if the Express and the Mail aren't bad enough already.

I am also appalled to think that President Trump insists in his tweets that Fox is his main form of 'news'; this does not bode well for the either the US or us in the rest of the world.
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1/10
Unbelievable...
wvmafia1 March 2017
I'm baffled that this was even done. The fact that ANYONE, even the most staunch liberal, would say that conservatives in the media and conservatives who are "power-brokers" would need to "brainwash" anyone in America is troubling and almost surreal. It's not even an idea worth investigating, but Jen Senko did it anyway. I saw it on my Xfinity "On Demand" list of documentaries and thought it was a comedy when I pushed "start". If you can watch this, I'd invite you to do so. After you watch it, see if you can find a place to watch the MSNBC election night 2016 coverage with Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow. After watching the two video productions think about them and see if you can see where the concept of the US media having a "liberal bias" and see if you find it comical that Ms. Senko spent the money and took the time to make this "documentary". The MSNBC coverage, that was meant to be a coronation of Hillary Clinton, shows in the most tangible and in your face way that "liberal bias" is not only in existence, but it's alive and VERY WELL.

Also, think about this... when looking for documentaries LIKE THIS, there aren't any and that is for a reason. Because the entire concept is laughable.

Let's all "Make America Great Again".
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9/10
History of the right wing media machine
oldz-1889617 July 2021
Demonstrates how the right wing media machine has twisted and perverted the minds of those who watch.
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1/10
A fine example of propaganda.
bryanmillsfist5 May 2017
If you need an example of leftist propaganda this film works perfectly.

Point of fact, the Left has dominated academia, media, and the entertainment industry for decades. These also happen to be the greatest shapers of political opinions for the masse. If you want to brainwash a populace you need to be dominant in those three fields.

It is then richly ironic that this film is accusing Fox of brainwashing when the film itself is attempting to do the same thing. It was created to distort and mislead, the two things lefties accuse Fox of doing. They are right in that Fox does this, but then Fox is merely a response to a decades long assault upon the American people by the Left from the aforementioned quarters.

There is a war for your mind. Both Ledt and Right are going all out to win your heart and mind through manipulative and deceitful practices. This film is an example of that.

If you are s simpleton or a leftist fanatic you will love this film. If, however, you are a person capable of critical thought you should pass on this tripe and watch an episode of Garfield and Friends. That would be a more productive use of your time then watching this bilge.
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10/10
Watch this!
laney7071 September 2021
A must see! If you like most have family members, friends, significant others that have went off the conservative deep end now you will know why.
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10/10
GQP media exposed
RainbowVic16 January 2022
How can everyone in 2022 still believe in a party who want to send America back in the Middle Ages, want to ruin your vote and have the perfect plan for destroy your country? You gotta vote Blue everywhere, because is a honest party and doesn't want to brainwash America, like the Grand Qanon Party does. This documentary is truly revelant right now, and it will tell you who are really are the Republikklan's and their handlers at Faux News.

America has being destroyed by the Cult of Trump. If we want to rebuild better the USA we gotta Vote Democrat, this year is the year we're going to send'em home!
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9/10
Accurate
BrandonTunechi10 July 2020
A fantastic and accurate representation of how it feels to be a family member of someone who has become brainwashed and a worse human-being due to right-wing propaganda. The personal story hit home for me, while the facts presented are undeniable. The other people in the comments that voted it 1/10 are clearly still brainwashed, despite this fantastic documentary showing very clearly what is actually happening to them - which poses the question of: did they even watch it? I doubt it.
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8/10
This documentary hurt
wesdoughty23 July 2023
This hits close to home. I have a Uncle who used to epitomize what a good Christian, father and gentle human being. So gentle and highly intelligent. I wanted him to be my father.

That all changed when he began listening to right wing radio and Fox News. He turned into this mean, judgemental sad image of a human being. He had to inject his opinions every chance he had and in a hateful way. It was so depressing, I hoped it was a phase. It wasn't. His hateful comments on my social media posts were too much. I sent him an email basically asking him what happened to the man I used to take comfort being around? He merely responded with right wing hatefulness and couldn't even acknowledge what I was asking.

Anyway, if you deal with friends or family that suddenly took this hateful path, this documentary is for you. It made me sad but also feel I wasn't alone.
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4/10
Irony
earitlit-877187 December 2019
For any who think this 'exposes' Fox news. Have you considered that some other news stations are brainwashing as well? Just cause you may lean that way and chose to believe this is a one sided 'indoctrination' is naive . This was interesting. And one sided. And pablum to reinforce a one-sided perspective. Well done propaganda.
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