The Family Thicket~
 
My latest review will be on the locally made movie headlining the film festival, In my father's den. It is a story that was the portrayal of a story by a NZ author (Maurice Gee).
 
Small town life is something that I was born into but left before things really got tricky. Some movies go into the depth of the hidden side to this quaint life, where the secrets are thicker than water, and so is the blood of the families that form small communities. This is one such movie.
 
To understand the characters, we all need to have some sense of depth perception. The protagonist, Paul, is quite pained at the best of times. In fact, we can see pain in many of the characters. But the search for the root of the pain is the quest of the audience, as much of it is known to the characters.
 
Simply put, it is a story of homecoming, alienation, friendship and a disappearance possibly due to foul play, or is it a run away? There are hsalf's and flashforwards that are crucial to the story but often to the detriment of the orientation of the viewer.
 
As a production, it is most impressive. The acting shows that New Zealand does have much depth. The cinematography and sets were stunningly realistic. As it was a premiere we got to see those at the heart of bringing it together including most of the cast.
 
One thing that came across quite coincidentally was the links between the very different film I reviewed before, Old Boy. Both have strange hidden plots of real, accidental and imagined incestuous relationships. The hearts to both puzzles lie with the question that is not focussed on. And similarly, when the final pieces of the puzzle is put in the story becomes credible. For me, I would rate it as a good movie, also possibly stretching into the exceptional category.