What is a Family? This is the question at the centre of Dad Genes, a touching documentary that follows the story of Aaron, an affable fifty-year-old single man living a simple life from a tiny room in a Seattle artists’ co-op, where he juggles an administrative job and caring for his aged mother with Alzheimer’s.

For a short period in the nineties, in order to make some extra money, Aaron was a sperm donor and then never thought much more about it. But when he explores his ancestry on a DNA site, he is astonished to discover he has a grown-up son, Bryce, in New York. Bryce has also found two teenage half-sisters, Matti in Virginia and Alice in Oregon. The three children are eager to connect, so he invites them to travel to Seattle to meet him.

As Aaron bonds with his newfound children, he faces challenges in gaining the trust of their mothers. Bryce’s mother is welcoming, recognizing the value of a father figure, while Matti’s two mothers are more hesitant, especially when Matti dreams of moving to Seattle and joining Aaron’s unorthodox co-op.

Meanwhile, Aaron’s unexpected romance with Alice’s mother, Jess, adds another layer to the story. Jess not only brings love and support into Aaron’s life, but also inspires him to pursue his writing dreams.

So at one point Aaron, his mother, two of his children and Jess are all living together in the Seattle co-op, forming a most unconventional modern family.

This prompts Aaron to write an article about his unusual situation which gets published in The New York Times and overnight he and Jess become internationally famous, with TV interviews in the US, the UK, France and Germany.

After her passing, Aaron’s extended family of children, siblings, and cousins comes together to honour his mother’s memory, reflecting on what Family truly means to them.

These are very ordinary people with an extraordinary story. It is a joy to hear them talk and heartwarming to find that Aaron’s discovery had such a satisfying outcome. This film is a delight.

Directed by Craig Downing, Dad Genes was produced by Matt  Isaac and edited by Sara Berger. It was recently shown at the Dances With Films: New York Festival 2026.

7/10