Film as a medium for communicating models of fatherhood: Selected examples

Abstract

Cinema possesses a distinctive capacity to convey psychological depth—not merely through dialogue or narration, but more importantly through visual imagery, rhythm, sound, and silence. Film engages viewers on both emotional and subconscious levels, allowing for a deep sense of empathy with characters’ inner lives and conflicts, often without the need for explicit articulation. In 2005, Сеанс, the acclaimed Russian film studies journal, published an article inviting readers to reflect on the portrayal of fathers in cinema. “Отцы и сыновья” (“Fathers and Sons”), a piece by Pavel Kuznetsov, presents 24 international films exploring the theme of fatherhood. Kuznetsov examines these works through the lens of their ties to biblical, classical Greek, and Freudian narratives, particularly those centred on tense dynamics between authoritarian fathers and rebellious sons. Similarly, in his essay “Wizerunek ojca w polskich mediach na przełomie XIX i XX wieku” (“The Image of the Father in the Polish Media at the Turn of the 20th Century”), Krzysztof Arcimowicz identifies emerging models of fatherhood such as “the partner and protector of the child” and “the birthing father,” which challenge traditional archetypes such as “the breadwinner,” “the head of the family,” and “the strict disciplinarian.” This typology can also be applied to the present selection, which offers a preliminary exploration of the theme through a curated set of 21st-century narrative films. The article presents a selected, chronological, and subjective overview of cinematic portrayals of fatherhood. It does not claim to be exhaustive, but rather aims to outline key directions and representations within a broader discourse.