In My Father's Den (film)

Infobox Film
name = In My Father's Den


caption = Promotional poster for "In My Father's Den"
director = Brad McGann
writer = Maurice Gee (novel),
Brad McGann
starring = Matthew Macfadyen,
Emily Barclay,
Miranda Otto
producer = Trevor Haysom,
Dixie Linder
distributor = Warner Bros.
budget = ~ NZ$7,000,000
released = flagicon|NZL 7 October 2004
(New Zealand)
runtime = 128 min
language = English
imdb_id = 0385017

"In My Father's Den" is a 2004 New Zealand film written and directed by Brad McGann and starring Matthew Macfadyen and Emily Barclay. It is based on the novel of the same title by Maurice Gee. The film was released in October 2004 to glowing reviews. [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_my_fathers_den/ In My Father's Den - Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes ] ]

Plot

When his father dies, Paul Prior (Matthew Macfadyen), a disillusioned and battle-weary war photographer, decides to return home to an isolated land-locked town in New Zealand. His brother Andrew (Colin Moy), a local ostrich farmer, is caught off-guard by Paul's sudden reappearance after 17 years away. Worlds apart, they barely recognise each other. Andrew, a pious man, pressures Paul into staying to help sort out the sale of their father's cottage and the adjoining orchard. Andrew is married to the highly religious Penny (Miranda Otto).

Reluctantly revisiting the dilapidated family property, he discovers the old den tucked away in the equipment shed. It belonged to his orchardist father Jeff (Matthew Chamberlain) who, away from his puritanical wife Iris (Vanessa Riddell), had secretly harboured a love of wine, literature and free-thinking philosophy. When Paul as a child had accidentally stumbled upon this wondrous booklined universe he had been included in his father's secret, promising never to tell anyone about it.

Paul sets about clearing up and stumbles upon 16-year-old Celia (Emily Barclay) in the den. She has been using the derelict hide-away as a private haven to write her stories and to fuel her dream of living in Europe, far away from the small town she longs to escape. Paul curtly sends her away, unaware that she is the daughter of his first girlfriend Jackie (Jodie Rimmer), now the local butcher.

His former principal persuades him to take up a temporary relief position at the local high school teaching journalism. Celia, one of his students has a passion for writing and thirst for experience of the world. Intrigued, Paul allows her to visit him at home. It isn't long, however, before their growing friendship comes under scrutiny from a judgemental Andrew and an envious Jackie. The two are forbidden to see each other. Despite the warnings, Celia continues to visit and Paul encourages her in her ambitions as a writer.

And then, in the middle of winter, Celia goes missing. Paul was the last to see her, but denies knowing her whereabouts. He faces not only mounting suspicions and violent threats within the township itself, but his own wavering doubts about his involvement with Celia. Paul, now concerned for Celia's safety, admits she'd made him promise not to tell a soul about her ticket to Spain, on the morning she went missing. When Jackie discovers a packed suitcase beneath Celia's bed, along with a passport, the urgency of the police enquiry is raised. As the painful 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.

Through confrontations with his nephew Jonathan, and later Andrew, Paul learns of how Penny killed Celia, revealed to be the child of Jackie and Jeff (Paul and Andrew's father). Jonathan calls the police, and Andrew is arrested. Celia's body is found in a river, and after the funeral, Paul burns the den and reconciles with Jackie. The film closes with a flashback to the last time Paul sees Celia, as she walks down the road to her untimely death.

Cast

Awards

The film won the Fipresci Prize at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival, the Mercedes Benz Youth Jury Prize at the 52nd San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain in the same year, the Special Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2005 and the Grand Prix at the 2005 Festival du Film Britannique de Dinard. It became one of the top 10 grossing New Zealand films. [ [http://www.thefilm.co.nz/biography.htm Signature Television ] ] .

Critical Reaction

The website rottentomatoes.com, which compiles mostly North American reviews, gives the film a 100 per cent "fresh" rating, meaning consistently positive reviews, and with an average rating of 7.2 out of 10.

The latter figure is the average from seven reviews.

References

External links

* [http://www.inmyfathersden.com/ Official site]
*imdb title|id=0385017|title=In My Father's Den
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Reviews/In-My-Fathers-Den/2004/10/29/1099028200556.html "Sydney Morning Herald" movie review]