Aime ton père (2002)

Director:

Jacob Berger

Writers:

Pascal Barollier (writer)
Jacob Berger (writer)

Release Date:

13 November 2002 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

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

Awards:

3 nominations

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
Marc Brunet	...	Policeman
Jonas Finlay	...	Ship's officer
Martin Forsström	...	Sailor
Cory Hogan	...	Eskimo child
Robert Jadah	...	Stockholm usher
Stefan Kollmuss	...	Swiss Gendarme
Ulla-Carin Lindquist	...	Lotta Nielsen
Elisabeth Niederer	...	Dead woman
Johan Paulsen	...	Ship´s Doctor
Manuel Tadros	...	M. Azouz
Richard Ulfsäter	...	Sailor
Urs-Peter Wolters	...	Hospital doctor

Also Known As:

A Loving Father (International: English title)
Honor Your Father (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

103 min (Locarno Film Festival)

Country:

France | Canada | UK | Switzerland

Language:

French | English | Swedish

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Netherlands:AL | France:U | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Bienne, Kanton Bern, Switzerland

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

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

Unpleasant and Pointless

In the country of France, the writer Leo Shepherd (Gérard Depardieu) lives with his daughter Virginia (Sylvie Testud), who organizes his life. When the Swedish Academy awards Leo with the Nobel Prize for Literature, his son Paul (Guillaume Depardieu) unsuccessfully tries to contact him by phone, but Virginia does not allow Paul to talk to his father. Leo decides to go to Stockholm driving his motorcycle, and Paul follows him by car trying to speak with Leo. While trying to escape from Paul, Leo evolves in an accident on the road with another bike, a car and a truck and Paul kidnaps his slightly injured father. The police commit a mistake in the identification of one of the victims of the accident and announce the death of Leo. Meanwhile, Paul forces his father to listen to him, and along their conversation, a resentful relationship from both sides is disclosed.

"Aime Ton Père" is a deceptive movie about the relationship of a dysfunctional family that goes nowhere. The unpleasant and pointless story begins with a terrible development of characters, and it seems that Virginia is married with the black-haired guy (probably Arthur) and has an affair with the strong guy. The troubled relationship of Paul and Leo has accusations, resentments and pain but there is no final message. Further, there is no explanation why Leo has not written for three years. The conclusion of this empty story is absolutely disappointing. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Meu Pai, Meu Filho" ("My Father, My Son")