Father’s Day is celebrated in Nicaragua today and given the thousands of stories that have existed and will exist in the world of cinema, I think it is the perfect time to create a list that brings together a few films to celebrate the day.
From dramas and comedies to documentaries, here are 10 film recommendations to watch and enjoy that sum up everything this date means for many people and families.
Happy Father’s Day!
10- afternoon
Incredibly human, moving and sentimental, this A24 drama directed by Charlotte Wells and starring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio tells us about a daughter’s relationship with a loving young father as they explore the harder aspects of life. Fatherhood and the Emotional Impact on a Daughter’s Life.
9- Dick Johnson is dead
This irreverent documentary starts with a funny idea but evolves into something more emotional and heartfelt. A film director decides to mix fiction and documentary to explore myriad, sometimes illogical and ridiculous, ways her father could die while telling the story of her family.
8- Minari
This South Korean film is specifically about the American Dream and how an immigrant family moves to a farm in the United States. What’s special about Father’s Day is the relationship between Steve Yeun’s character and Alan Kim and the true meaning of home.
7- Kramer vs. Kramer
A Hollywood classic and one of the first to seriously address the subject of a child raised only by his father and portraying the challenges and difficulties of being a single parent through the excellent chemistry of his cast, particularly Justin Henry – the youngest Actor nominated for an Oscar.
6- Kill a mockingbird
Another classic in the history of cinema and a must-see film to commemorate Father’s Day. The iconic performance of Gregory Peck, who brings to life a lawyer who faces life’s trials as he navigates the complexities of parenthood and seeks to teach his children the principles of ethics and morals. Perfect for today.
5- The Mitchells vs The Machine
Even a criminally underrated film fits perfectly with Father’s Day. The adventure of the Mitchells as they try to save the world from robot attacks is also a warm and touching story about the dynamic between a father who can’t do enough for his family and a daughter who just wants to be accepted the way she is she really is.
4- Captain Fantastic
The life of a family raised in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city changes when Ben (Viggo Mortensen) learns of the death of his children’s mother. In order to attend the funeral, Ben is forced to bring his children back to civilization, where they will face myriad changes in their dynamics and perspective on the world.
3-Nebraska
This 2013 Oscar-nominated film is a beauty that doesn’t get much talked about. With a plot as simple as a son accompanying his ailing father to collect a lottery win while trying to convince him they are trying to cheat on him, this Bruce Dern film is a clear example of how, Regardless of age or situation, your father will continue to be a source of life lessons.
2- Big fish
This wonderful classic by Tim Burton is an emotional film that tells us how a man begins to examine the stories and fables that were told to him as a child in order to find something that would help him, his father, with whom he was married was, to better understand, a somewhat complicated relationship. A film to see at least once in a lifetime.
1- Beautiful boy
One of my favorites and also one of the hardest on the list. Through a magnificent performance by Steve Carrell and Timotheé Chalamet, the story tells us the complex relationship of a father and his drug-addicted son and how this affects the dynamic between them and tests the limits of fatherly love, if there is one at all .
Real and genuine, it may not be a family-friendly film, but I definitely recommend it highly as it captures the essence of what it’s like to be a parent today, tomorrow and forever.