The Stan Original Documentary Revealed: Otto By Otto tells the story of a fascinating Australian family.

Barry Otto is widely considered to be one of the finest actors Australia has ever produced.

Born in 1941 he has become a veteran of the stage and screen having performed in some of the great productions throughout history including Strictly Ballroom, Australia and The Great Gatsby.

The Stan Original Documentary Revealed: Otto by Otto was originally intended to act as a love letter to the great actor's career. But along the way the story twisted into something a lot more poignant and personal thanks to the filmmaker behind the lens: his daughter Gracie Otto.

What is Stan Original Documentary Revealed: Otto by Otto about?

Over the past few years Gracie Otto has emerged as a talented filmmaker and director. Having gotten behind the camera to direct shows like Heartbreak High, Bump and The Other Guy, her knack for bringing stories to life on screen has been undeniable.

But for her latest project she wanted to get personal. When the 37-year-old started piecing together to footnotes for a documentary about her famous father Barry Otto, she knew she wanted to speak to the rich back catalogue of work he had created through his career. 

Watch the trailer for the Stan Original Documentary Revealed: Otto by Otto.

After he suffered a depressive episode following a project he worked on in 2013, Gracie's intention was to illuminate his creative genius to pull him from the funk. However, midway through the project Barry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and so the direction of the documentary naturally ebbed towards telling a story about how his life was unfolding in the wake of his health battle.

In an interview with TV Week, Gracie said the project she began turned into something completely different. Her intention was never to make a documentary that was steeped in such tragic circumstances but ultimately felt compelled to follow the journey of his diagnoses.

"Like many good documentaries, it became clear that it wasn’t going to be the story I set out to tell", she said.

"My whole relationship with Dad had always been about fun, so I didn’t want to go down the dark corridor his life was taking. But we had to in order to be truthful to the film."

While the documentary still pays beautiful homage to Barry's 50 year career, there are moments of raw melancholy that Gracie felt were important to leave in the final cut — for both her and her father.

"It was important for me to not make this film sad, even though it’s heartbreaking," she said. "At times, I found that filming was almost like a therapy I needed – the person is slowly dying in the most painful way to everyone around them, but I found beauty in that Dad just painlessly slipped into this new creative realm."

Barry Otto with his first wife Lindsay and their daughter Miranda Otto. Image: Stan.

Peppered throughout the documentary you're also invited to peak behind the curtain to catch a glimpse of Barry's family life. Not only has Gracie entered into the entertainment industry but you'd also be very familiar with her half-sister Miranda Otto who has become an incredibly successful actor in her own right having starred in The Lord of the Rings, Rake and Homeland.

"For theatre people or film buffs, they've got that part of it," Gracie told Today Extra in an interview. "I think just to see an artistic family's life at home and what it was like growing up is interesting as well."

You'll walk away from Revealed: Otto By Otto with a deeper appreciation for the unique talent of Barry with a tinge of sadness as you watch the fragility of life play out before you in a one-of-a-kind career. Brimming with nods, never before seen clips and personal anecdotes, this is a must watch for anyone who has been touched by his world.

Who stars in Revealed: Otto By Otto?

Of course Barry Otto is at the centre of this documentary but over the years he has gathered fans, family and famous faces in his orbit and they've all come forward to share their experiences with him.

Barry Otto with Cate Blanchett and Jason Clarke in 1995. Image: Stan.

Tune in to see the likes of Gillian Armstrong, Cate Blanchett and Baz Luhrmann who have all had the chance to work with Barry over the years and experience his greatness firsthand.

The Stan Original Documentary Revealed: Otto by Otto is now streaming, only on Stan.

Feature Image: Stan.