In Netflix's “Daughters,” prison walls can't keep love away

The FADER: Can you explain why it was important to you to tell this story primarily from the daughters' perspective?

Patton: Many directors approached me and wanted to tell a prison story. But I didn't want to lose sight of the innocence, wisdom and willpower of these girls. Natalie and I agreed that we had to let the girls drive the story because it came from them. It's our responsibility not to hijack their ideas. [a daddy-daughter dance in jail]. They had this free-spirited attitude and understood that the meaning of fatherhood is to be with their fathers. They are the real champions here.

How did you find the girls in the film and foster relationships to the point where you could capture such intimate footage?

Rae: We really had to spend a lot of time researching and getting to know the people. The attitude you have behind the camera affects that, so it was important that we agreed on our vision. We are very careful about who we put in these rooms. Our cameraman had a parent who was in prison. It's very much about sitting together and being comfortable. We also follow the girls' directions. If they don't want to talk about something, we don't push them. Over the months and years we've spent on their bedroom floors, the camera soon becomes invisible.

Can you explain why you decided not to reveal why one of the men is actually in prison?

Patton: There were several reasons for that. Natalie and I were concerned that the girls were the main characters and never asked why their fathers were in prison. Being an active listener means paying attention to what the documentary is showing you. We had to listen to the girls and consider how they wanted to be portrayed. If we gave that away, it would be a different film and not the one we wanted to make. Daughters is a love story, not a prison story.

Rae: A non-judgmental attitude is incredibly important for a documentary filmmaker. These girls deserve love and if they are innocent, why should they suffer the consequences of their fathers' actions? The parent-child relationship is the focus and I am glad we made this decision.

The footage of the dance itself is incredibly emotional. What memories do you have of that day?

Patton: I've done so many of them now, but I still have to control my emotions. When I see the girls arrive and meet their fathers and when they get to take a photo together, I have to go to the bathroom and pull myself together. They take your phone away, but as soon as I get it back, I always call my dad and tell him again that he was that angel in my life. Father-daughter relationships don't always make it onto the screen, and that's a shame, because they have so much power and that shows as we grow into women. I never understood how grateful I am until I got to be with these young girls and share their experiences.

Rae: The task of filming this dance required a lot of conversation and planning. We wanted to do justice to the emotion and intimacy of the occasion. We decided to shoot on 16mm film, which was a risk as we could only have two cameras in the room. It was crucial to capture those bright moments and the human quality of what was happening. Our cameraman said he wasn't sure if anything he filmed would be sharp because he had cried so much that day. The whole day was overwhelming.

Is there something special about dancing that makes these events so successful? I don't think it would be the same if they went on a picnic or swimming together…

Patton: A lot of things happen at a dance that bring people together. We play games and eat. There's a comedian in the room who cracks jokes and helps break the ice. It's an intimate space and people can express themselves. I know that in the black community, we did something to heal ourselves: dancing and music. When you put that on, suddenly things are unimportant. At that point, we can connect with our loved ones and be a community. It's a tradition of how black people have healed and survived. That's irreplaceable.