In My Father's Den (2004)
Paul (Macfadyen), a prize-winning war journalist, returns to his remote New Zealand hometown due to the death of his father, battle-scarred and world-weary. For the discontented sixteen-year-old Celia (Barclay) he opens up a world she has only dreamed of. She actively pursues a friendship with him, fascinated by his cynicism and experience of the world beyond her small-town existence. But many, including the members of both their families (Otto, Moy), frown upon the friendship and when Celia goes missing, Paul becomes the increasingly loathed and persecuted prime suspect in her disappearance. As the violent and urgent truth gradually emerges, Paul is forced to confront the family tragedy and betrayal that he ran from as a youth, and to face the grievous consequences of silence and secrecy that has surrounded his entire adult life.
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I love this movie so much
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
Not a bad show, if a bit long and slow, but the events leading to the conclusion are totally contradicted in the subsequent flashback ..... READ NO FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO KNOW THE ENDING ..... Paul is the main guy. His brother, Andrew, tells Paul that he (Andrew) informed the girl of her true parentage, and that when she asked for proof, fatal consequences ensued; yet later, in the flashback, Paul openly discusses the parentage issue with the girl when he sees her for the last time, prior to her discussion with Andrew on the topic, so she knew the parentage situation and would therefore not have been shocked and demanded proof when Andrew ultimately told her the story! I reviewed this on the DVD, and I cannot see any alternative than a botched sequence of events.
This movie was so highly praised??? I can't believe it. This was a boring slow unenjoyable film. The plot was easy to lose control of and casting Matthew MacFadyen as Paul wasn't the best casting decision ever made. Very,Very occasionally the movie was OK, especially the end. If you want to watch a boring slow unenjoyable film then maybe this is it. But if you don't want a boring slow unenjoyable film then this film is definitely not for you. Also...This is the worst film compared to "The World's Fastest Indian", that film was an absolute masterpiece. But the scenery in the film was quite good as well (I live near there). 2/10 - not the best film ever made.
A flawless film about family dynamics: how one's childhood shapes the person he becomes. Paul Prior, played brilliantly by Matthew Macfadyen, returns home for his father's funeral after Paul had been away for years. Paul had left to escape a memory he could not handle, and attempts to leave it all in the past. Yet certain events unfold and he must relive the past, which is displayed in flashbacks that break up the narration of the present: an effect that only reminds the viewer that no one can ever escape the past, we all carry it with us. The setting of a small New Zealand home sets the atmosphere of isolation. There is also the imagery of the birds, the ostrich being a bird that cannot fly away, and the free birds that only fly when someone has died. Death seems to be the only way someone can escape.A wonderful film that needs more attention. The action is at times slow, but it builds and builds, and leaves you in shock. Paul's last line at the end are utterly tragic.
I watched this movie 5 days ago and I still can't get it out my mind. I have recommended it to everyone I think would appreciate it. That being said, it is not for people who only appreciate Hollywood action blockbusters.It is a family drama about betrayals and secrets but nothing is over done or overly dramatized. The story isn't told in chronological order but that adds to the mystery and allows for really effective character development. I felt like I was reading a book, the way you got little pieces of insight into the characters in each scene. Because you had to work to understand the characters it felt like who they are and what happened to them really mattered. Do not fear however, everything makes sense by the end.The events develop slowly and believably in a small New Zealand town. The setting really contributes to the film's beauty and the photography is amazing. I believe it is done by the same man who did the photography for "once were warriors" "The Piano" and "Whale Rider". The soundtrack was also perfect, with a mix of haunting original scores and rock classics from the likes of Patti Smith.The acting was wonderful, not just from Matthew Macfadyen and Emily Barclay but also the supporting cast. The interactions between characters were truly genuine. I don't know what else to say except I really really loved this movie and hope that it will be made available in more places so that more people can see it. It stands out from everything that is popular in this day and age, all the sequels and remakes that are completely devoid of originality.