In Nuclear Family, Ry Russo-Young reexamines the landmark legal decision that would change the way gay families were perceived forever. The HBO original documentary series premieres September 26 on HBO Max.
How do you survive a threat to destroy your family? This three-part documentary series begins in the late 70s/early 80s, when the concept of lesbian and gay families was inconceivable to most. Director Ry Russo-Young examines how the power of love, the terror of loss and the universal pull of family sent a shockwave through her life as a young girl – and how its echoes have reverberated through all the way up to today.
At a time when being gay or lesbian seemed to mean you had given up the right to have children and a family, Ry was born to two lesbian moms through a sperm donor. Their idyllic life was threatened by an unexpected lawsuit, culminating in a landmark decision that would change the way gay families are viewed evermore.
Featuring a lifetime of home videos, press and interviews, the series tracks the arc of Ry’s relationship with her donor — from idealization to villainy and, ultimately, to loss and understanding. Her story, in all its particularity, is also a universal exploration of love, hate, and the universal pull of family.
At a time when being gay or lesbian seemed to mean you had given up the right to have children and a family, Ry was born to two lesbian moms through a sperm donor. Their idyllic life was threatened by an unexpected lawsuit, culminating in a landmark decision that would change the way gay families are viewed evermore.
Featuring a lifetime of home videos, press and interviews, the series tracks the arc of Ry’s relationship with her donor — from idealization to villainy and, ultimately, to loss and understanding. Her story, in all its particularity, is also a universal exploration of love, hate, and the universal pull of family.
