VIFF 2020: Father
viff 2020For those who fall on hard times, the struggle of finding a path back to prosperity can be a long and difficult process. With a system that often fails to give the necessary tools needed to support individuals while expecting them to be able to fix their station, a ruthless circular pattern is often formed as exposed in Srdan Golubović's Father. Following a man named Nikola (Goran Bogdan), who loses custody of his children due to not being able to provide what the government would consider adequate living conditions – due to a rough patch of finding jobs and barely making ends meet – the film is heartbreaking with its portrayal. As Nikola does everything in his power to fix his situation, is yet consistently held back by the very same conditions.
The immediate element of the film to suck audiences in is the true desperation found within Nikola and his family. The film opens boldly with Nikola's wife bringing their children to his former employer, threatening to light both herself and the children on fire if they don't pay Nikola the money they owe him. Where this act is undoubtedly harsh, the screenplay is simultaneously aware of the power of quiet subtlety, creating a sense of honesty within the suffering faced by this family. This honesty is played throughout, as due to this act the children are taken away from Nikola until he can provide for his family. Throughout the entire 120-minute runtime, Nikola does everything in his power to accomplish this goal. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make the situation right, which is seen as noble and inspiring. This is further realised in Goran Bogdan’s performance, which is masterfully built.
This is where the film finds its biggest gut punch. The government expects Nikola to simply change his situation, but even with great effort, Nikola struggles to meet these expectations and this exposes a fundamental conundrum within the system. The government expects Nikola’s situation to improve, yet due to its limiting nature, Nikola can't accomplish this. Without being able to afford a car, Nikola can't get to many places of work easily and without work, he can't afford the changes he has to make to get his family back. Father is an incredibly tragic story that is sure to tug at the heartstrings and leave an impact on most audiences.
The sole issue with the story is its refusal to fully evolve. Where continually tragic, the thesis formed 40-minutes in is the exact thesis the film holds nearly an hour later, with very little development. The film, at a point, does introduce the idea of Nikola possibly fighting against the system rather than trying to work within it, but that idea is quickly lost, and ultimately, the film fails to explore the full nuance of that idea. The film is impactful and easily watchable from start to finish, but at the same time, it always feels like it is on the verge of some big breakthrough that would elevate itself to the next level, only to never take that next step.
Father is easily one of the most impactful films of the year. This is a compelling look at the struggles those can face when trying to fight for survival, within a system that is unsupportive and unhelpful, leaving those trapped in the mud to sink further and further. Even if the film fails to evolve to a deeper thesis which would make it stand out as one of the best films of the year, there is an undeniable craft and impact to the story being told, making it an easy recommendation overall.
