Father (film)
Encyclopedia
Father is a 1990 film about a retired German immigrant living in Australia, Joe Muller (Max von Sydow
), who is accused of being a former Nazi who committed war crimes in the Second World War by a strange woman called Iya Zetnick (Julia Blake
). His daughter Anne Winton (Carol Drinkwater
) is not sure whom to believe.
The film was directed by John Power, written by Tony Cavanaugh and
Graham Hartley and produced by Barron Entertainment and Film Victoria
. The 1990 AFI
awards Max von Sydow
won the 'Best Actor in a Lead Role' category, and Julia Blake
won the 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role'.
around the time of the Second World War. A young Iya Zetnick crawls out of the bodies in tears, apparently having survived a massacre.
Decades later in modern day Melbourne
we are introduced to Joe Muller and his affable family. His adult daughter Anne lives with him, and one day she receives a phone call from Iya Zetnick, asking her to ensure she watches a television current affairs show coming up. Joe thinks it concerns a trivial matter about his business, but he and his family are shocked when the show instead links him to the massacre of Iya's family in Lithuania
.
Joe suddenly becomes the centre of attention. His family sticks by him, but some seeds of doubt are shown. Eventually he is arrested and sent to trial, but is not found guilty on account of insufficient evidence
. Still, Anne is now increasingly concerned about her father's past, and confronts him.
Iya breaks into their house, armed with a pistol
. She confronts Anne and her father, and when she is capable of shooting Joe, she shoots herself instead. Anne is left in no doubt about her father's crimes
, and Joe is left estranged from his family.
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow is a Swedish actor. He has also held French citizenship since 2002. He has starred in many films and had supporting roles in dozens more...
), who is accused of being a former Nazi who committed war crimes in the Second World War by a strange woman called Iya Zetnick (Julia Blake
Julia Blake
Julia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....
). His daughter Anne Winton (Carol Drinkwater
Carol Drinkwater
Carol Drinkwater is an Anglo-Irish actress and author, best known for her award-winning portrayal of Helen Herriot in the television adaptation of the James Herriot books, All Creatures Great and Small...
) is not sure whom to believe.
The film was directed by John Power, written by Tony Cavanaugh and
Graham Hartley and produced by Barron Entertainment and Film Victoria
Film Victoria
Film Victoria is a statutory authority of the State Government of Victorian, Australia that provides strategic leadership and assistance for film, television, and digital media production in the Australian state of Victoria....
. The 1990 AFI
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
awards Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow is a Swedish actor. He has also held French citizenship since 2002. He has starred in many films and had supporting roles in dozens more...
won the 'Best Actor in a Lead Role' category, and Julia Blake
Julia Blake
Julia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....
won the 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role'.
Plot
The film starts showing an open pit full of shot naked bodies somewhere in LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
around the time of the Second World War. A young Iya Zetnick crawls out of the bodies in tears, apparently having survived a massacre.
Decades later in modern day Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
we are introduced to Joe Muller and his affable family. His adult daughter Anne lives with him, and one day she receives a phone call from Iya Zetnick, asking her to ensure she watches a television current affairs show coming up. Joe thinks it concerns a trivial matter about his business, but he and his family are shocked when the show instead links him to the massacre of Iya's family in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
Joe suddenly becomes the centre of attention. His family sticks by him, but some seeds of doubt are shown. Eventually he is arrested and sent to trial, but is not found guilty on account of insufficient evidence
Evidence
Evidence in its broadest sense includes everything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either presumed to be true, or were themselves proven via evidence, to demonstrate an assertion's truth...
. Still, Anne is now increasingly concerned about her father's past, and confronts him.
Iya breaks into their house, armed with a pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
. She confronts Anne and her father, and when she is capable of shooting Joe, she shoots herself instead. Anne is left in no doubt about her father's crimes
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
, and Joe is left estranged from his family.