Comment j'ai tué mon père (2001)

Director:

Anne Fontaine

Writers:

Jacques Fieschi (writer)
Anne Fontaine (writer)

Release Date:

19 September 2001 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

When his long-time disappeared father is entering his life again, Jean-Luc, a successful doctor, has no option but to face his own life story. Will he ever be able to forget and forgive?

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Car Accident | Resentment Toward Father | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Michel Bouquet	...	Maurice
Charles Berling	...	Jean-Luc
Natacha Régnier	...	Isa
Amira Casar	...	Myriem
Stéphane Guillon	...	Patrick
Hubert Koundé	...	Jean-Toussaint
Karole Rocher	...	Laetitia
Marie Micla	...	The Prostitute
Nicole Evans	...	The Female Patient
Philippe Lehembre	...	Homeless Guy / Elderly Patient
Pierre Londiche	...	Isa's Father
Jean-Christophe Lemberton	...	Cyril
Manoëlle Gaillard	...	Isa's Mother
Etienne Louvet	...	Myriem's Son
Claude Koener	...	The Official

Also Known As:

Cher papa (France) (working title)
How I Killed My Father (USA)
My Father and I (USA) (DVD title)
Tout le monde y pense (France) (working title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Singapore:NC-16

Company:

Ciné B

The story of a son who is confronted by his father, and the journey of his emotional make-up is explored.

This is a film whose title i find highly significant. It creates a tension throughout all the action which i find highly integral to the significance of the piece.

The casting, however, i found cliché. The 'rich yet forlorn' wife of Jean-Luc is predictably docile looking. Beautiful she is, yes, and aristocratic in movement, also, but she is exactly what one expects. Equally, Jean-Luc's lover, who is more Mediterranean looking, with more spirit and with a more voluptuous body, is also the archetypal affair. Why, in 2001 are we still type-casting? However, I find Jean-Luc immaculately chosen, with the touch of 'froideur' in his eyes that hints at a depth in the character, and also, an 'un-depth' for it is very difficult to penetrate his often emotionless actions.

Not a film that i would say was beautifully shot...i don't find the photography breathtaking, but it is a perfect french thriller: classy, subtle and psychologically deep.