Customer Reviews

This Is My Father [VHS]

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a wonderful film. I rarely cry at movies, but this one had me weeping copiously at the end. The acting was first-rate; Aidan Quinn turns in one of his best performances ever as the poor, quiet Kieran. James Caan was subtle and sympathetic as a lonely schoolteacher searching for the story of his father. This film was romantic without being schmaltzy, and ultimately tragic and heartbreaking--no typical Hollywood happy ending here. The movie's portrayal of provincial Irish society in the late 30s was starkly accurate, as was its indictment of the Catholic Church. All in all, a great film that has been sadly underappreciated.

This is an unforgettable film which deserves a huge audience. It moves back and forth through past and present, weaving both together through a family and its history, and a lonely, burned out teacher's exploration of his roots. Each view and each perspective in this family -- past and present -- is sensitively explored. The most compelling, however, is the grandmother's love story with Kieran (Aidan Quinn) in County Galway in Ireland. This film explores Irish life and the Irish perspective, and the blessings and curses of each. The cast is superb, and Aidan Quinn gives a wonderfully moving performance as Kieran, the Father.

There are other Fathers in this film. Exploring these and musing about their meanings and their meddlings, past and present, is something best done by each individual viewer. Beautifully photographed, superbly acted, and wonderfully conceived, this is a must-see film for everyone, but especially for anyone with an interest in Ireland. This wonderful country and its history, its people, its music, its curses, its blessings, and its magic are all captured in loving detail onscreen. Highly, Highly recommended!!!

Why don't we ever hear about great films like this one. It has a wonderful story with a tearful conclusion. It is worth seeing, if only for the glimpse of Irish culture in 1939 and surely accurate depiction of the Catholic Church of that time. One gets the notion that in the Irish countryside of today, the Church probably still operates as it does in this film.

Aidan Quinn, who went out of his way to make this film, is terrific in his part as Kieran O'Day. He gained weight for the film and it is far from a glitzy role. Actually, all the acting is top notch and the characters are all believeable. Having grown up in a Catholic Church that is very close to what is portrayed in the film, made it even more interesting for me.

It's not a flashy film, but one of the best of this century.

One of the most powerful love stories to come along in decades, "This Is My Father" takes the spectator on a journey to 1939 rural Ireland. Opening in modern day Chicago where James Caan portrays an unhappy highschool teacher, he discovers a 60 year old photograph of an unknown man standing next to his mother. Never knowing who his father was, Caan goes back to his mother's homeland in hopes of unraveling the mystery behind the photo. In meeting a fortune teller who had known his mother during her youth, the story takes shape as Caan (and the spectator) is taken back in time through the old woman's memories. Aidan Quinn who portrays Kieran O'Day, the unknown figure in the haunting photograph, gives a performance that will melt your heart! It is rare these days to find a film, especially a love story, without nudity and excessive profanity. This is one of them. The impact of the story and the extraordinary talent of the cast is so powerful that the viewer will want to see it again and again. Based on a true event and 10 years in the writing to perfect it by Paul Quinn (brother of Aidan), this is a masterpiece that will remain in the heart for years to come.

"This is my Father" is one of the most romantic and touching movies that I have ever seen. It is beautifully acted by Aidan Quinn, undoubtedly, one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood and Moya Farrelly, a newcomer. I was born in Ireland, Galway to be exact so I may be a little biased, but this movie brought me to tears. I felt as though I was watching two people whom I had known for years struggling to be together. Aidan Quinn's performance as an Irish 'Forrest Gump' was fantastic. He fulfilled the characteristics of a man that every woman, at least I and 'Fiona' dream of falling in love with. I also loved the portrayal of the Catholic way of thinking, which in the 1930's was the only way of thinking. This was without a doubt, the best movie of the century. Go and watch it!

In a lot of the time-split movies I've seen, the present story is never as interesting as the past one, which is the case with "This is My Father." The present story revolves around Kieran Johnson (played by James Caan), a middle-aged Chicago high school teacher, as he travels abroad to Ireland with his teenage nephew, Jack (Jacob Tierney), in search of his unknown paternal roots. Upon arriving, Kieran Jr. learns of his father, Kieran O'Day (Aidan Quinn), via the Irish fortuneteller they're boarding from.

The movie then switches periodically to the summer of 1939, when Kieran Jr.'s young mother, Fiona Flynn (played by Moya Farrelly), returns from Catholic school and resumes her friendship with Kieran Sr., only to have it blossom into a forbidden love affair. Why their relationship is taboo is never fully explained, though the Catholic church, Kieran Sr.'s being a "poorhouse bastard", and their age difference are vaguely touched upon. However, a lot of it's left up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions.

In addition to the lack of any major taboo, I thought the past story between Kieran Sr. and Fiona would have been better at the forefront of this movie. It was certainly more entertaining than watching Kieran Jr. brood or Jack flirt with two local girls (or, rather, they were flirting with him; he just looked lost). But despite the little things, "This is My Father" is a great movie. It has a somewhat predictable demise at the end, but it's still sad enough to interest fans of romantic tragedies.

I must confess I have not yet bought the video, but I have now seen this movie THREE times. I saw it in Killarney when I visited Ireland. I came home ranting and raving about how wonderful this movie was, and I recommended all my friends and relatives see it. Since it had not opened in the USA yet, no one had heard of it, and they decided I left my brain in Ireland.

Well, it ran for two weeks here in Madison, Wisconsin, and again, I went and wept at the end of the movie. Considering my friends tell me that I haven't a sentimental bone in my body, this is quite a compliment.

Then, I rented it when I visited my parents. My father very much enjoyed it, too.

So, why did I love this movie?

First, Moya Farrelly. What a find! I read that this was her first movie where she played a major role. I am stunned. She turned what could have been a "Lolita" into a character that you deeply, passionately cared about. She was alternately teenager/mature woman, mischievous/serious, naive about love/understanding it completely. All of it believably. When she is condemned at the end by Kieran's "parents," my dad asked me why. It became even more heart-breaking to him that she was condemned for something that wasn't her fault.

Second, the scenery. Wow! I had never been to Ireland before, and so much of the movie was similar to what I was seeing outside as I traveled to Killarney.

Third, Aidan Quinn. He really nuanced the role. I firmly believe he is the most underrated actor in Hollywood. Michael Collins, Avalon, and Benny and Joon. I really wonder when he will finally get the attention he so richly deserves.

All of this leads to my obvious question: Why isn't this movie getting Oscar buzz? The acting was excellent; Oscars love independent films; three brothers working together on a dream project. It's a classic love story, both on and off-screen.

I described the movie as Wuthering Heights Meets Fried Green Tomatoes since the scenery is so beautiful and the story is told through flashbacks. I'd recommend purchase.

One of the best films I've ever seen. Watch it. Disregard one of these reviews that trashes this movie.

This is the first movie in a very long time that has really touched me. I just caught it on cinemax about a minute after it started. As soon as this movie was over I pratically ran over to the computer to find out what the name of it was. Easily the best movie I've seen this year.

I've seen a lot of movies in my life, but none have moved me as much as this one. I can't believe that it was so ignored this past summer --not one of the "blockbusters" this year (or any year) can compare. The old woman's flashback to the beautiful love story is enough to rate this movie as a 5-star. When you add the subplots of a man looking to learn the truth about his father, as well as a wayward nephew looking for his place in life, it becomes a timeless tale that will move the hardest of hearts to tears. This is one of those movies that you think about for days afterwards. Also, watch for the comic relief mid-movie by the parish priest -- it's a hoot for Catholics & non-Catholics alike!