A Loving Father (2002)
"Aime ton père" (original title)

While the whole world thinks writer Léo Shepherd is dead, he is kidnapped by his son Paul.

Director:

Jacob Berger

Writers:

Pascal Barollier, Jacob Berger,

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Guillaume Depardieu, Sylvie Testud

3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Leo Shepherd
Guillaume Depardieu	...	Paul
Sylvie Testud	...	Virginia
Julien Boisselier	...	Arthur
Noémie Kocher	...	Marthe
Hiam Abbass	...	Salma
Frédéric Polier	...	Andre
Pierre-Alexandre Crevaux	...	Paul, Age 8
Pippa Schallier	...	Virginia, Age 11
Johanna Mohs	...	Pippi
Jacques Frantz	...	Antoine Levy
Sten Eirik	...	Sven Boland
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karina Aktouf	...	Paul's fiancee
Roberto Bestazzoni	...	Policeman
Manuela Biedermann	...	Hospital nurse

Storyline

Writer Léo Shepherd lives in rural France together with his daughter Virginia, who manages his affairs. One day Virginia gets a call from the Swedish Academy. Léo has won the Nobel Prize for Literature. His estranged son Paul tries desperately to contact him, but is denied every time by his sister. When Léo starts traveling to the ceremony in Stockholm by motor bike, Paul decides to follow him and try to speak to him. Clearly Léo doesn't want to be followed, starts speeding and gets involved in a accident, but isn't badly hurt. The police confuse another motorist for Shepherd and announce his death. Paul, driven by his childhood experiences, decides to kidnap his father.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France Canada UK Switzerland

Language:

French English Swedish

Release Date:

13 November 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

A Loving Father

Filming Locations:

Bienne, Kanton Bern, Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, DD Productions, Enterprise Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ferry scenes were actually shot on the Isle of Wight ferry England.

User Reviews

Powerful story of family relations

This movie is an extremely gripping story of family relations involving a famous father. Both Depardieus are wonderful but I was blown away by the performance of Sylvie Testud. She riveted me every moment that she was on the screen. The story focuses on Leo Shepherd (Gérard Depardieu)a famous writer on the verge of winning a Nobel prize and examines what life is like for those in the family where the father is the focus of international attention and adoration. Other family members are left to identify themselves relative to the father. While the focus of the film is on a famous father, the power children give their parents makes many of this film's story lines relevant to all.