Memories of My Father delivers on an intimate story of a father and son. The portrayal of this evolving relationship speaks to larger truths about parents and their children, making for an honest and heartwarming watch.
The protagonist is Héctor Abad Faciolince (Juan Pablo Urrego), son of real-life doctor and human rights leader Dr. Héctor Abad Gómez (Javier Cámara), who dedicated his life to helping the poor in Medellín. Through Héctor’s childhood memories, the film narrates the evolving relationship with his father, as well as three decades of political struggles. The film is directed by Academy Award winner Fernando Trueba (also known for his 1992 comedy-drama Belle Époque), and based on the novel written by Héctor himself.
The film’s blend of colour with black and white works thematically by depicting Héctor’s changing perspective, both towards his father and the world. The warm tones and bright colours used to depict his childhood convey lightness and delight. This works on two levels: firstly, it sets a nostalgic tone reminiscent of happy childhood memories, which is broadly relatable to most viewers. Secondly, it mirrors Héctor’s uncomplicated feelings towards his father, which are specific to the story. The young Héctor, played by Nicolás Reyes, worships Gómez because of his unwavering determination and charisma, as an iconic figure whom most people would fail to live up to.
Subsequently, the shift to black and white reflects Héctor’s changing view of the world. His skepticism carries over into his opinion of his father: he accuses him of ignoring his family, dismissing his idealism as vanity. This brings a healthy balance to the script. Firstly, it poses an interesting question on the line between community and family, and whether devotion to one risks meaning the exclusion of the other. Secondly, it explores the real-life idea of a young adult becoming disillusioned with their parents as they grow up and become their own person. This happens often in children like Héctor, who are extremely devoted to their parents: the idol, the myth and the figure they perceive as kids fades as they notice the imperfections that make them human. In Hector’s case, this is complemented by a sense of betrayal due of his father’s full devotion to his community, which is perceived as a decision to leave his family behind. Naturally, Memories of My Father shows how that skepticism can fade away as the young adult matures. In this case, the public perception of Abad Gómez plays into this shift.
The film has the ambitious task of telling a satisfying personal story within a historical drama. When done well, this can result in films like Amadeus, which masterfully interweave themes of personal conflict with the iconography of an historical figure, however inaccurate that might be. In Memories of My Father, the relationships between Héctor, his father and his family are balanced with the story of Abad Gómez’s humanitarian efforts. While the movie is largely successful in this, it is not perfect. Because the protagonist is a child for the majority of the story, the real-life political issues are broadly defined and may appear vague, especially if the viewer is not familiar with that period of Colombian history. However, in its strongest moments, the film effectively conveys Abad Gómez’s unique approach to revolution, defined by his role as a doctor.
Another weakness of the film is found in its hesitation to delve into the struggles suffered by Abad Gómez after the death of his daughter, and how that impacted Héctor’s view of his father. At one point, the viewer is told about this shift, though only a glimpse of it is actually captured on screen. Had this episode been given more screen time, it would have sharpened the focus of the film on this central relationship.
Nonetheless, the film is immersive and well-executed, making for a compelling watch.
The Verdict
Memories of My Father is a refreshingly honest depiction of a son’s complicated relationship with his father. However, this is at times diluted by the film’s many moving parts.
Rating: 8/10
Words by Elisabetta Pulcini
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