The ‘Role’ of a father

A Father is the first hero of the children. A pat on the back, an affectionate hug or just a word of advice, father has something to give at every stage of growing up. And this he does objectively pointing out deficiencies unlike the unconditional love that mother gives, blind to the shortcomings. For this reason fathers come across as hard taskmasters at times. Hollywood has religiously brought out movies that have reflected the love-hate-love relationship with father. And in doing so, some have gained cult status.

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Director: Vittorio De Sica

Cast: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Vittorio Antonucci

Antonio needs a bicycle to get work in order to support his two children. His wife and Antonio pawn their bed sheets to get the bicycle out of hock. However, the bicycle is soon stolen. Antonio and his eldest son go on a hunt of the city in search of the bicycle thieves. Just watching the father-son duo together is heartening fare.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Director: Robert Mulligan

Cast: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford

The film chronicles childhood days of six-year old Scout Finch and his 13-year-old brother Jem in the small town of Maycomb. They are looked after by their lawyer father Atticus Finch, an idealist, who ensures both Scout and Jem learn right values in life and how to stand by them, in any given circumstance. He is always there to read to little Scout before she goes to bed or understand Jem’s teen troubles and thus give him his space. The movie is a fine take on how the father passes on his idealism to his children.

The Godfather (1972)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano

‘The Godfather’ holds a distinction of being a classic book and a classic movie. If we are all in praise for Mario Puzo for his fantastic literary work, then we should also hail Francis Ford Coppola for giving an apt shape to the idea of Puzo on the silver screen. Michael is the youngest son of feared mafia lord Vito also known as ‘The Godfather’. Michael is quite opposite to his father and he is a Marine Corp. He does not relate to his father’s ideologies and his business. As the wheel of time turns, due to unforeseen circumstances, Michael is sucked into the whirlpool of family business and ends up being the next godfather, only for his father.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Director: Roberto Benigni

Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini

Guido Orefice, a Jewish-Italian book shop owner uses his humour to protect his son in a Nazi death camp. He creates a surreal environment for his kid to save him from the adversity of the death camp. Orefice tells his kid that the camp is part of a game and we are players in it and we should never be caught. The death camp surrounded by misery, deaths and sickness does not affect the little kid because of his father’s convincing role play. In the end the father sacrifices his life to safeguard the child.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Sean Connery, Harrison Ford

The third installment of the cult movie Indiana Jones has a new addition, Indiana Jones’ father. The father and son duo search the Holy Grail solving biblical puzzles, fighting the Nazis. The adventures of father-son team enacted by the legendary actors and the lively banter between the father and the son adds the fun element to the movie.

Road to Perdition (2002)

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law

John Rooney, the mob boss raises the orphan Michael Sullivan. He loves Michael more than his own son, Connors. In a meeting with their unhappy associate, Finn McGovern, Connor flips and kills McGovern after a heated argument. Michael’s son Michael Sullivan Jr, who hides in his father’s car earlier, witnesses the murder. Though Michael makes his son swear to secrecy, Connor kills Michael’s wife and his younger son mistaking him for Michael Sullivan Jr. Michael sets out with his son to seek justice for his family.

Big Daddy (1999)

Director: Dennis Dugan

Cast: Adam Sandler, Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse

The story is about Sonny Koufax, an unmotivated 32-year-old bachelor who lives in the big apple (New York). One day his roommate Kevin leaves to China for his law firm. Julian, a 5-year-old boy is dropped off at Sonny’s apartment with a note stating that Julian is Kevin’s son and his mother cannot take care of the boy anymore. Sonny decides to return the boy to the social services and keeps the child for a few days until he finds new adoptive parents. Taking care of the child gives Sonny a new purpose in life.

The Pursuit of Happiness (2006)

Director: Gabriele Muccino

Cast: Will Smith, Thandie Newton, Jaden Smith

The movie is a biographical drama of Chris Gardner. Chris is a salesman and he spends his whole life savings in portable bone-density scanners. Though he does make money; the time taken to sell the scanners and meeting the family needs take a toll on Gardner. His wife, who works as a hotel maid is unhappy with Gardner leaves him and goes to New York after he acquires an unpaid internship with a brokerage firm. He is only left with $30 and his son to take care of. This is an epic journey of a homeless man, who finds it very difficult to make the ends meet, but never lets his son down.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Director: Andrew Stanton

Marlin, a clownfish is an overprotective father. Previously, a barracuda takes away the eggs from their coral and only one egg is left in the coral. In the attack the egg gets partially damaged and Nemo develops a small fin. Marlin, always tells him that he is special and that’s why he has a small fin. One day, Nemo is caught by scuba divers and is taken to Sydney in a boat. Marlin goes on a mission to rescue Nemo. It is a beautiful depiction of a father’s love and a son’s desire to prove himself!

Father of the Bride (1991)

Director: Charles Shyer

Cast: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams

Coming to terms with the fact that his little one has grown up into a woman and the jitters, which a father gets before getting his daughter married is what the story is all about. George Banks is a regular middle-class man. He has a sweet and simple life. Annie, his 21-year-old daughter decides to get married and George cannot believe that his little angel will be taken away by a stranger. He funnily becomes insane and what follows is a comic marvel. A bit of George Banks is there in every father of a bride.