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The Way I Killed My Father

Play trailer The Way I Killed My Father Released Aug 23, 2002 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 44 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Jean-Luc (Charles Berling), a successful geriatrician, enjoys a comfortable life with his wife, Isa (Natacha Régnier). He is shocked to learn that his father, Maurice (Michel Bouquet), who had abandoned the family years earlier, has died in Africa -- and is even more shocked when Maurice shows up a short time later at his house. Without explaining his presence, Maurice insinuates himself into his son's life, charming Isa but bringing Jean-Luc's buried resentment to the surface.
The Way I Killed My Father

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Critics Consensus

How I Killed My Father is a penetrating character study of father-son ties.

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Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe Hushed but scalpel-sharp drama, a movie that'll probably send men in the audience home much quieter than they arrived. Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 19, 2003 Full Review Jane Sumner Dallas Morning News Trs French, trs fascinating psychodrama. Rated: B Dec 26, 2002 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Rated: 2/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Vet French actor Michel Bouquet renders such an astounding performance that he elevates Anne Fontaine's family melodrama way above its Freudian foundations and male menopause. Rated: B Dec 20, 2006 Full Review Pablo Villaça Cinema em Cena A bela construo de personagens merece elogios. Rated: 3/5 Aug 26, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (8) audience reviews
Audience Member How can you accept a parent's rejection? How can you imagine the most awful pain and disillusion if you lack any imagination. It's like walking on an amputated leg. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member intense performance fr berling n subtle, very refrained acting fr bouquet. i like! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Mildly absorbing Freudian duel between father and son doctors -- med students, take note! Dad is an Albert Schweitzer swashbuckler, who has run a series of shaky clinics for the destitute of Africa. In rebellion, the son becomes a fatuous and wealthy "gerontologist" who seems to take special pleasure in telling his elderly male patients how decayed they are looking. Watch as these two compete over who's the biggest hypocrite and who **really** understands neglected daughter-in-law Natacha Regnier. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Another glossy psychological drama from France with some great acting especially from Michel Bouquet. Not a huge amount happens but you really get inside the character's heads and the insight into the father/son relationship is handled sensitively. Thoroughly recommend this. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Typicaly French: A story of relationships which takes a while to get your head around the plot. Beautifully shot with some fine performances Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member i love very entertaining Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Way I Killed My Father

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jean-Luc (Charles Berling), a successful geriatrician, enjoys a comfortable life with his wife, Isa (Natacha Régnier). He is shocked to learn that his father, Maurice (Michel Bouquet), who had abandoned the family years earlier, has died in Africa -- and is even more shocked when Maurice shows up a short time later at his house. Without explaining his presence, Maurice insinuates himself into his son's life, charming Isa but bringing Jean-Luc's buried resentment to the surface.
Director
Anne Fontaine
Producer
Philippe Carcassonne
Screenwriter
Jacques Fieschi, Anne Fontaine
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Production Co
Ciné B
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 23, 2002, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$145.4K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)