These movies about father-son relationships are perfect for spending quality time with the dad in your life. And with Father’s Day on Sunday, you may want to press play on one of them this long weekend.
Love, letting go, forgiveness, and mutual understanding are common themes in these father-son movies. With settings that span the globe, these films show how universal these storylines truly are.
Just add a bag of popcorn, and you’ve got yourself an affordable and sweet Father’s Day gift!
1. Most adorable movie about a father-son relationship: ‘Finding Nemo’
There’s a reason Finding Nemo caught the attention of so many people when it first came out in 2003. The animated film follows the adventures of clownfish Marlin as he searches for his son Nemo, who is taken from his home in the Great Barrier Reef.
This movie about a father-son relationship is a heartwarming tale of both letting go and unconditional love.
2. ‘Life is Beautiful’
Another classic in the genre is Life is Beautiful, which came out in 1997. The film is set in Nazi-occupied Italy. When protagonist Guido and his son Giosué are forcibly taken to a concentration camp, they’re separated from the young boy’s mother.
In the camp, they face terrible living conditions and the looming horror of the gas chambers. Throughout it all, Guido uses all his powers of humour and imagination to shield his young son from the true nightmare of their situation.
The story is sometimes funny and filled with love. You’ll need to keep the tissue box handy, though, because this movie about a father-son relationship is truly heartbreaking.
3. ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’
Dating from 1979, Kramer vs. Kramer has endured the test of time. It’s a legal drama starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep as Ted and Joanna Kramer, parents locked in a custody battle for their son Billy.
Ted isn’t a particularly hands-on father so it’s a struggle when his wife leaves Billy in his care. However, he soon develops a closer relationship with his son and finds he’s willing to risk everything to keep custody of the child.
4. ‘Wajib’
This is another movie about a father-son relationship playing out against a political backdrop. Palestinian Shadi returns home to the Israeli town of Nazareth, where the majority of residents are Palestinian, in order to attend his sister’s wedding. When he arrives, he finds that he and his estranged father must deliver all 300 invitations by hand.
As they drive, Shadi and his father must endure the hospitality of their guests and confront their divergent views about the politics of their homeland. Shadi must also acknowledge the important role his father played in his and his sister’s lives after their mother left them and the country.
This is a quirky comedic drama from 2017, which also features a cute father-daughter wedding scene. Coincidentally, the two protagonists are played by a real-life father and son duo.
5. Tragic movie about a father-son relationship: ‘Cry, the Beloved Country’
Based on Alan Paton’s acclaimed novel of the same title, this movie was released in 1995. ‘Cry, the Beloved Country’ is a classic tale from Mzansi, though South Africans may find it a bit strange to hear foreign actors’ accents in the film.
This father-son relationship also takes place during a dark historical period – this time, Apartheid-era South Africa. In it, elderly preacher Stephen Kumalo journeys from rural KwaZulu-Natal to find his son Absalom in Johannesburg.
When Kumalo discovers that Absalom has committed a terrible crime, he and the victim’s white father embark on a powerful journey of mutual understanding and forgiveness.
6. One more: A short film about father-son relationships
Earlier this week, the seventh short film in the Heartlines Father’s Matter series premiered. Called Playing Dad, it explores the fun that fathers can have with their young children. It’s available on the Heartlines website.
What’s your favourite movie about a father-son relationship?
Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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