This week's theme for Thursday Movie Picks from
Wandering through the Shelves is All in the Family Edition: Father-Daughter Relationships (Biologically Related).
Having recently seen a Scottish film centered around Father-Daughter relationship that I unfortunately found too uncomfortable, I found it difficult to find some happy/good ones. I think I might have done it ...
Broken
The British film was one of my favourite picks fron the BFI London film festival in 2012. I picked it because the cast looked great and I was interested in the story about a 12 year old diabetic girl and the intertwining stories of her neighbours. At the heart of the film is strong relationship between father and daughter. Tim Roth plays Archie, single parent to teenage son Jed and daughter Skunk played by Eloise Laurence in her debut role. The casting for these characters was brilliant, Roth and Laurence have great rapport, feeling so at ease. A truly heartbreaking film with genuine moments of humour. The realistic depictions of families is what sold it for me.
Paper Moon
The Father - Daughter duo in this film was famously played by Ryan O'Neil and his real daughter, Tatum O'Neal. The story, set in the 30's in Kansas and Missouri, is about a con man and a 9 year old girl who may or may not be his daughter. They start off as opponants but soon become partners and throughout trust and affection develops. It's a beautifully made film shot in black and white with compelling leads who give deliver a rollercoaster of emotions within in, what I see as a, quiet film. The biggest event is near the end and in the grand scheme of things, isn't a huge deal but to these two it is.
Little Miss Sunshine
Primarily about a family rather than a Father-Daughter relationship, there are a few scenes in the film where the relationship is highlighted, particularly when Richard (Greg Kinnear) tells Olive (Abigail Breslin) that apologising is for losers. It's obvious that he cares very much for his daughter but he forces his 'special programme' ideals on her. Out of everyone he is the most changed in my opinion, he is controlling but determined, and its the latter that spurs him into action. He is proud of his daughter no matter what, even if its performing a toned down version of strip routine at a children's pagent.
