Troubled by his attachment to seemingly trivial but sentimental possessions while preparing for the birth of his first child, the filmmaker explores the local yard sale culture--asking how the sellers manage to appraise the objects of their lives, now up for sale. Soon, the question of how best to preserve their family history in home movies and other artifacts (such as the contents of an old wallet) is raised. Feeling the pressure of being both a documentary filmmaker and soon-to-be new dad with a home movie camera, the director struggles with the blurry boundaries between his responsibilities in each area. In the process, he also examines the broader meaning of home movies, and questions his ability to live up to the simple beauty of the golden 8mm films of his youth when the time comes to shoot the all-important first glimpses of his own new baby. Navigating an eclectic and sometimes bizarre collage of family heirlooms that serve as glimpses into each owner's personal history, the filmmaker roams yard after yard, asking everyone he encounters at the sales how they decided what they could get rid of and what must be preserved. All these issues culminate in a turning point for himself and his family; what results is a personal look at the nature of attachment to possessions, family history, and an intriguing attempt at discovering what’s really worth holding on to.

Forms: Documentary, Short
Genres: Alternative, Family, Independent, Post Modern, Culture