Although in a conventional talking-head form the extensive personal footage, in addition to regular historical footage, as well as the limited and personal interview subjects make for a particularly moving portrait of a woman mostly relegated to the background in the life and legend of Johnny Cash. Positioned in counterpoint to her portrayal in the 2005 biopic her daughters given Vivian voice and dimension. Necessary viewing for any Cash fan but perhaps more engaging as an investigation of the personal and familial cost of fame and addiction.
Her daughters obviously take issue with Walk The Line, some more than others, although the film in and of itself shows not a hectoring wife but someone at the worst ignored by a drug addict womanizer at best completly justified in their behavior. Towards the middle of My Darling Vivian we see repeated footage form the 70's and 80's where June Carter Cash claims the four daughters as her own and the press ignores or outright demonizes Vivian and perhaps this is more where this resentment comes from rather than the limited, if fair in this critics opinion, portrait in Walk The Line. Whatever the basis there are many layers to this complex familial entanglement with various daughters recalling and interpreting the past differently especially when it comes to the subject, their mother. All the daughters have engaging and interesting perspectives but Rosanne seems to have the most impartial view and seems to have done the most internal work to grapple with all the fallout of their childhood.
Although ostensibly about Vivian Liberto the film is a fascinating look at memory, trauma, and how the past informs who we become. It's also, perhaps unintentionally, a pretty compelling recommendation for programs like Al-Anon.
Currently streaming on Amazon as part of the digital SXSW festival.
See It.
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