In his new Netflix documentary, Sr., Robert Downey Jr. bids farewell to his filmmaker father, Robert Downey Sr., who passed away in July at age 85. In addition, he has the opportunity to conduct uncomfortable dialogues, including a heart-to-heart about their drug-using years.
The film, directed by Chris Smith (the man behind the Netflix documentary Fyre), is apparently a reflection on the career of the avant-garde filmmaker. But it becomes immediately apparent that the underlying issue is Downey Jr.’s connection with his father. Throughout the conversation, the father and son refer to one other as “Jr.” and “Sr.” and praise each other’s filmmaking abilities. Jr. was profoundly influenced by Srartistic .’s independent filmmaking in New York City, since he spent his infancy in a cot on set. In addition to all the benefits of a career in the film industry, however, there were devastating drawbacks, particularly drug and alcohol misuse.
“I was a drug addict,” says Sr. candidly to the camera, recalling his filmmaking years in the 1970s, when Jr. was only coming of age. Primarily cocaine and cannabis. Jr. agrees in a separate interview that even at a young age, he “understood what was happening in that basement.”
Then, while speaking with his father over the phone, Jr. adds that it would be “remiss” of him not to mention how his father’s drug usage led to Jr.’s own road of addiction. His father jokes, “I’d rather avoid that discussion.”
Thanks to Netflix
Though neither states it explicitly in the video, both father and son have publicly said that Jr. began taking narcotics at the age of eight because his father shared substances with him. In the documentary, Jr. recalls that period and states, “We were all changing our mind with narcotics.” In lieu of dealing with the truth that things had gone off the rails, I was only playing a game of wanting to self-soothe or remain occupied. Honestly, I look back and move on more than anything else. It is astonishing that even one completed film was released. However, this did not deter the Downeys.
Others may believe that Jr. has every right to despise his father, but the Marvel star attributes his sobriety to his father’s assistance. Following his marriage to Laura Ernst in 1991, Sr. began to clean up his behavior and remained so after Ernst’s death in 1994.
“I recall it very, very, very vividly,” recalls Jr. Even though it took me another 20 years to get my act together, you and Laura were a stabilizing presence in my life.
Jr. becomes emotional as he recalls Ernst’s death from Lou Gehrig’s illness. And he remembers how crucial it was that his father did not relapse in response to his sadness. “When you lost her, stayed clean, and I was still out there, you just told me to stay on the planet, not give up, etc.,” Jr. explains. “You were not exactly a man without karma. Let me not fucking—not let’s bend the truth in this situation. However, that was a really momentous event.”
Clearly moved by his son’s kindness, Sr. responds, “It’s great to hear it that way. You earned it, considering what you endured.”
Father and son contemplate this for a moment in silence. Then Sr. breaks the tension by saying, “Okay. That deserves an evening of nonsense.” The scene ends with Jr.’s shaky response to the question.
It’s an emotional moment, especially considering that father and son will part ways in a few short months. But the making of this film provided them with the kind of closure that most of us can only imagine.