Socks on Fire

In this lyrically styled autobiographical documentary packed with competing emotions, Bo McGuire returns to his hometown of Hokes Bluff, Alabama. Home movies from his childhood show a happy family, but things fall apart following the death of his much-loved grandmother. McGuire always felt a strong connection with both his free-spirited Aunt Sharon and his playful Uncle John, the drag queen of the family. The tragedy lies in the fact that Sharon became homophobic, and she kicked John out of Grandma’s house. What lay behind these events?

For this, his first full-length documentary, McGuire, who is queer himself, assembled a bold and intimate totality from multiple elements: poetic reflections; conversations with his mother, Uncle John, and others; old video material; and scenes recreated with actors—with the part of Sharon played by a man. The director’s study of his family and his own coming-of-age evolves into a reflection on identity, happiness, and the magic of the woods behind his grandmother’s house. It is also a homage to the many important women in his life. The film won Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival.