BFF FILM & FESTIVAL BLOG
Celebrating Father Figures in Film & TV
Written by Amanda Lederle
The title of father can be a crown to wear with pride, yet it can weigh heavy on a person’s head. The following examples of father figures are all only humans, trying to do the best they can with what they know and have been taught. We are introduced to grown men who find new ways to take care of their families, make amends, learn what it means to be a leader, and seek to find their personal identities.
Beginners
This film is about Oliver (played by Ewan McGreggor) reflecting on his life after his father’s death, while also trying to define the future of a new relationship. Oliver’s constant need for definition stems from his desire to find purpose and love.
After years of marriage to Oliver’s mother, Hal (Christopher Plummer) is in his 70s when he comes out as gay to his son. We see how Oliver’s relationship with his father changes afterward, up until Hal’s eventual death. This film is a wonderful example of how fathers may not always be who we think they are, and how it’s never too late to reveal one’s truth.
Christopher Plummer received an Academy Award for this role as Best Supporting Actor in 2011.
Morris From America
In the first minute of the film, Morris (Markees Christmas, in his first feature film) and his father Curtis (Craig Robinson) analyze what they think is good hip-hop music.
Right off the top, you see the strong bond between these two. Father and son then go out for ice cream, and we realize that these two African-American males in their matching New York Yankee hats are in Germany, very far from their American norms.
While Morris struggles to fit into the culture and the local adolescent community, he is also in search of his rapping identity. Meanwhile, Curtis finds himself struggling as well. This father figure is trying to deal with his grief after the passing of his wife, at the same time as he is learning to be a single father and trying to find his own way in German society. Seeing Robinson as a father is a refreshing change from the carefree, troublemaking characters he typically plays. Morris in America is a great story about finding your authentic voice and identity in a foreign place, no matter what age you are.
This film won two prizes at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival: the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and for Craig Robinson, the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Individual Performance.
Whale Rider
Traditions are important to maintaining culture. But how long should we continue to uphold a tradition if it no longer serves its purpose?
This is a story about a Maori tradition of training the first-born grandson of the chiefs to be the next leaders of a tribe. When the first-born grandson in a local Maori tribe dies at birth, his twin sister Pai seems to have the potential to be the future chief but is brushed off as a possible candidate.
However, as a strong female character, Pai does everything in her power to show her grandfather that she is capable of leading their tribe. After several challenges and with the support of other male tribe members, she eventually proves herself worthy of the position. A beautiful tale about how traditional male roles can be upheld by any gender, and that a community needs to support its members for the group to succeed.
Pai is played by thirteen-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes, who in 2003 became the youngest nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
The Royal Tenenbaums
What’s a list about fathers without Royal Tenenbaum? The father of three struggles to find his way back into his quirky family after years of questionable parenting. This story is about him making amends with his children and, as a result, how they come to terms with themselves.
Anderson’s films famously portray the experience of coming-of-age and people’s relationships with their fathers, and this film about adult children is no different. No matter how old we become, we still look for approval from our loved ones, as a father or as children.
Amanda is a film enthusiast that has dedicated their life to mental health awareness, CreateBeing.com. Amanda has a background in Film Studies and lives with their partner and their chinchilla, Chewbacca in Toronto, Canada. They are also a visual artist, you can find more on Instagram @amandalederle and @createbeing.
9 films and TV shows that shine a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community, its challenges, and achievements! #IDAHOT
In celebration of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, here are 9 films and TV shows to watch that shine a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community, its challenges, and achievements. From dramas to comedies, we truly appreciate every story and its significance. Click the image for trailers. Happy IDAHOT day!
POSE
The category is…jaw dropping, heart warming, get out of your seat and start snapping at the TV goodness. You might start voguing down your halls after watching this pivotal show set in 1987, following the ball culture, like the iconic film Paris Is Burning (Livingston, 1990). The show juxtaposes the lively underground with upper class white executives, who work for Trump.
The show features 5 trans people of color - setting a record in TV history as the first show ever to feature these radiant performers. Showrunner, Ryan Murphy decided to donate his earnings to not-for-profit organizations in the LGBT community (intersex, trans and gender non-conforming) after hearing lived experiences while researching for the show. Season two premieres this June. This show is about connection, respect and love in your adopted community and ultimately being your true self.
MILK
A biopic about LGBT rights politician Harvey Milk’s rise to office. This film gives us a look at his leadership of hope, courage and bravery as the first elected openly gay California politician in 1978. Sean Penn wins an Oscar for Best Actor in this role.
TANGERINE
What do you do when you get out of jail and your bestie tells you that your cheating pimp boyfriend has a new cis-girlfriend? This comedy drama follows transgender sex worker, Sin-Dee’s search to find this woman in question and the many confrontations on her journey to redemption. Underneath that plot is a story truly about two best friends, Sin-Dee and Alexandra, both trans women who are strong, vivacious and have each other’s back. Alexandra even skipped her own phone bill to pay for Sin-Dee’s rent while she was in jail, that is a real friend! Seeing these trans characters as multi faceted, not just two dimensional stereotypes, was refreshing at its time. The film was shot with three iPhone 5S smartphones. This was before films and technology advanced as it has today. This was really a standout film at its time. In fact, one of the iPhones used has now been donated to the Academy of Motion Pictures. Locked in history.
DYKES IN THE STREET
The anticipated Inside Out Film Festival (May 23- June 2)l in Toronto celebrates the vibrant LGBT community. In this year’s festival, a documentary about the Dyke March, a staple during Pride Week, will have its World Premiere. Director, Almerinda Travassos, takes you on a journey from the past marches from 1981, 1991, 1996 and 2016 and shows you how these marches have made an impact in the political and cultural arena in Toronto. Thus asking the big question of what has been accomplished from these marches and what is next?
GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH
You may recall this title as we featured it as a must see at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Rodrigues features 300 singers on tour in the deep south. Frankly, sounds like a logistic nightmare but I digress. The choir travels to states like North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee to a series of church performances where they encounter anti-LGBT laws and homophobia. A really powerful example of how sharing stories can change lives of others and the storytellers themselves. This film will have it’s Canadian Premiere at Toronto’s LGBT Film Festival, Inside Out.
WHEN WE RISE
A mini-series drama about LGBT struggle for equality over the last 40 years. It also documents the growth of activists like Cleve Jones and Roma Guy throughout different times in their lives. Each character is played by two actors at different ages, highlighting just how powerful and long they fought for these rights. It was created by the writer of MILK (Van Sant, 2008) and Dustin Lance Black. This moving show stars trans actor, Ivory Aquino, and other notable faces like Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Mary-Louise Parker, Guy Pearce and David Hyde Pierce. This timely show debuted in 2017, just as Trump announced roll-back of transgender bathroom protections.
BREAKING FREE
The filmmaker introduces the documentary as a personal project and gives insight to the LGBT experience and laws against homosexuality in India. You quickly recognizes that social injustice, brutality from officials and victimization of individuals is a worldwide issue for all LGBT people. The film does include positive coming out stories, political fights and an empowered future for the next generation. This film was shot from 2007-2014.
WILL & GRACE
There was nothing like it at the time. Originally a side story for another show, the Will and Grace characters shined so brightly, the network wanted creators, Max Mutchnick and David Kohan to develop their storyline. Though this sitcom may not seem like an important pick for LGBTQ+ rights, look again at the wide access of representation on a national network, prime time slot that gives this show a place on this list. It not only has won awards but showcases the first gay kiss on network television! That episode, titled “Acting Out”, was only in their second season. There is no doubt its reboot was brought back to a time where our culture, again, needs to be reminded of the visibility of a gay lead.
FREEDOM TO MARRY
This documentary shares the historical look at the social political climb towards same-sex marriage in the US. This inspiring film follows activist, Evan Wolfson, in his fight for the equal rights of same-sex marriage. His passion for equal rights has empowered this whole movement leading the countdown to the Supreme Court favoring the ruling of same-sex marriage. This film has won 8 Best Documentary awards and has been screened at over 20 film festivals.
This article was written by BFF contributing writer Amanda Lederle. Amanda is a film enthusiast that has dedicated her life to mental health awareness, CreateBeing.com. Amanda has a background in Film Studies and lives with their partner and their chinchilla, Chewbacca in Toronto, Canada.