As I've continued to think about my earlier post on paternity in film, I've noticed something else: Most of the movies that really deal with fatherhood are actually father-son stories, rather than father-daughter stories.
In fact, I'm having a hard time thinking of good father-daughter movies other than Fiddler on the Roof and a handful of adaptations of King Lear. I may be skewing things, since I'm a father of sons rather than daughters (and I've been a son myself). On my original list, the best treatment of the father-daughter relationship is David Chase's take on Tony and Meadow Soprano.
But why fathers and sons? Is it the old Oedipal drama? Is there something fuller about the chain of paternity (Vito to Michael, Royal to Chas, etc.)? Is father-daughter conflict inevitably spiked with the hint of abuse, which removes the chance for nuance? (Magnolia may or may not be an exception.)
In addition to Monsoon Wedding that I mentioned earlier, Amelie has an interesting father-daughter relationship.
ReplyDeleteI'll Do Anything is a nice father daughter story.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is tricky to find good examples. Looking for good ones now in prep for arrival of baby girl this summer...