In My Father's Den
2004 Directed by Brad McGann
Synopsis
Paul (Macfadyen), a prize-winning war journalist, returns to his remote New Zealand hometown due to the death of his father, battle-scarred and world-weary. For the discontented sixteen-year-old Celia (Barclay) he opens up a world she has only dreamed of. She actively pursues a friendship with him, fascinated by his cynicism and experience of the world beyond her small-town existence. But many, including the members of both their families (Otto, Moy), frown upon the friendship and when Celia goes missing, Paul becomes the increasingly loathed and persecuted prime suspect in her disappearance. As the violent and urgent truth gradually emerges, Paul is forced to confront the family tragedy and betrayal that he ran from as a youth, and to face the grievous consequences of silence and secrecy that has surrounded his entire adult life.
Cast
Popular reviews
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Devastating drama amidst the beautiful Otago hills. Fantastic acting from Macfadyen (and as a Kiwi, I can attest to local lads disappearing off and coming back with Pommy accents), Barclay and the cast in general.
Recent reviews
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This film could have gotten straight ten from me, hadn't it depressed me so much. New Zealand usually strikes me as a paradise in which such events as described here by Maurice Gee (from his same-name novel) seem unimaginable. There, where your eyes meet breathtaking landscapes only, there are people so unhappy, doing so terrible things and willing to escape. MacFadyen was brilliant, as usual. The other actors were also very good - equally depressed and equally lost in this heaven on Earth that is New Zealand. I do not fool myself - I know that everywhere is situation just the same - people always think the neighbor's grass is greener - but I wish this was less accentuated in the setting like this one.
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Something New Zealand needs more off. Hard hitting drama's that leave you feeling depressed.
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“Als das Meer verschwand” ist ein ruhiger Film, der einen auch lange nach dem Abspann nicht loslässt. Ohne zuviel zu verraten, ein wirkliches Happy End sieht anders aus. Doch auch schon während der Film läuft überrascht er durch einige Geschehnisse, die man so nicht erwartet hätte. Und genau das macht den Film so sehenswert.
Allerdings sollte man über diesen Umstand informiert sein. Als ich “Als das Meer verschwand” auf meine Videobuster Wunschliste gesetzt hatte, war ich der Meinung, dass der Film ein gradlinig erzähltes Drama ist und somit perfekt für einen schönen Abend mit der Freundin geeignet, doch der Film ist alles andere als geradeaus erzählt. Das es dann trotzdem ein toller gemeinsamer Abend geworden ist, liegt daran, dass Regisseur…
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A small, beautiful gem.
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An amazing film. One of the few that I have on DVD and have rewatched many times. I'm sort of ashamed, but it was though this film that I discovered Patti Smith.
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Quality drama from New Zealand. Great performances from Matthew Macfadyen, Miranda Otto and Emily Barclay.
Quite slowly paced but well worth it. Probably deserves 4 1/2 stars, I'll have to think on it.
Is available from Love Film on stream.
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Well presented and very human film. I'm always stunned by the distance between the good and the bad.
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Fängt wie ein typischer verlorener-Sohn-kehrt-nach-Tod-des-Vaters-zurück-Film an, wartet dann aber doch noch mit einem interessanten Twist auf. Sehr traurig Aber auch schön. Sehenswert.
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Wonderful use of analepses. It does teeter on the outer edge of plausibility towards the end, but mostly it's believable realism with really strong performances.