Father’s Day – film-authority.com
I review indie films, often ones that have no reviews elsewhere. I do this for a number of reasons, one of which is that I’ve been involved as a film-maker, and understand how tough it is to get a film seen; most reviewers just look at studio product. There are some gems out there, and although they can be platformed on streaming channels, they’re hard to find, and that’s where a critic can come in useful in getting films to audiences. I get about 20 to 30 films offered to me a day, and most of them come from people who don’t read this website and haven’t taken the time to read the instructions about submitting a film; if you’re interested in sending a film, or reviving an old application, they’re in the FAQ..
Steve Beauregard is a writer/director/actor who managed to get past that first hurdle of writing a submission letter; his film is called Father’s Day, and it’s on a number of platforms with zero reviews to date. Low-budget films can be a strain to watch, and I reserve the right to switch them off if I can’t watch them; fortunately Father’s Day kept my interest. Like most low budget films, it’s a little raw and undercooked at times, but it’s got a big idea that it just about gets over the line. Performed by Beauregard, Travis Campbell and Dennis Sanchez, it’s a simple concept; a middle-aged man appears in a sunny outdoor park, searching for a homeless man and claiming he’s only got 87 minutes to find him. Who is the man, and what’s the hurry?
So with some spoilers, we’re talking time-travel, and the reason for the haste is that the target of the mission, an ex-vet who damaging himself via ‘the wonderful world of meta-amphetamines’, has limited time to live. There’s a further twist, but it’s a neat Twilight Zone conceit, played out in what feels a lot like real time, and manages to touch on some genuine issues. ‘Nobody aspires to be homeless,’ ‘It’s a choice…The government money pays you money to stay drink?’ runs the debate; we ‘respect people who work’, but what do we understand of the reason why a man might not? Father’s Day articulates an argument about how and why we live, a Socratic dialogue at times, but interesting enough.
With breaks for whittling and disk golf, Father’s Day has moments of circuitous dialogue that try the patience, but that’s part of the idea; this isn’t an easy argument to win. So what if it’s not packed with celebrity cameos, CGI and a team of writers creating in-joke dialogue; movies can be aimed at stirring the intellect, and Father’s Day actually makes its own unique point by the end of its short running time. Either way, I was happy to certify this fresh on Rotten Tomatoes; as a low-budget film and an alternative to studio fare, it makes the cut.
Father’s Day is on Amazon and Tubi in some territories. Try the links below to find out.
Post Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.