In My Father's Den (2004)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Brad McGann

Writers:

Maurice Gee (novel)
Brad McGann (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 October 2004 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Mystery | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Who you set out to be isn't always who you become.

Plot:

A disillusioned war journalist's return home is blighted when he becomes implicated in the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl he has befriended.

Plot Keywords:

Journalist | Murder | Prodigal Son | Bath | Female Nudity

Awards:

19 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Matthew Macfadyen	...	Paul Prior
Miranda Otto	...	Penny
Emily Barclay	...	Celia Steimer
Colin Moy	...	Andrew
Jimmy Keen	...	Jonathon
Jodie Rimmer	...	Jackie
Toby Alexander	...	Paul as a teenager
Vicky Haughton	...	Ms Seagar
Nicholas Hayward	...	Andrew as a teenager
Liam Herbert	...	Andrew as a child
Vanessa Riddell	...	Iris
Asher Emanuel	...	Paul as a child
Matthew Chamberlain	...	Jeff
Peter Hishon	...	Vet
Mabel Wharekawa	...	Winnie (as Mabel Burt)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, language, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

New Zealand | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 (International Version) | USA:R | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | Australia:MA | Canada:PG | Ireland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Singapore:R21 | UK:15 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand

Company:

IFMD Ltd.

Trivia:

The wartime photographs used for the film were taken by South African photojournalist Greg Marinovich. The photograph of the child was taken by Romano Cagnoni.

Quotes:

Paul Prior: My mum - she was very religious. She had these little sermons about the beauty God hides away in little corners... My dad didn't believe in anything - he was an atheist.

Soundtrack:

Free Money

DON'T MISS THIS ONE

As an old codger who doesn't usually express himself on the internet this comment is a bit out of character. We saw the film recently while holidaying in NZ, nothing to do one Sunday evening and thought a local film might be interesting. Came out gobsmacked and argued and discussed it with my partner late into the night. Wanted to see if I could get a DVD, not realising it hadn't been released in the UK, and fell into this site.

The film is a bit like a jigsaw, at first it has no shape but as bits are added it starts to make sense and the enormity of the problem Paul has inadvertently got himself into becomes clear. The story is totally believable and all the actors, even the bit parts, are brilliant and convincing. The discontinuity of the story line means you have to work to understand it, but that adds to the interest.

The scenery is great (well, it is NZ). There is a little swearing and small sex scenes but they are also well done and not overplayed, and are necessary for the plot.

Am looking forward to seeing it again