MovieChat Forums > In My Father's Den (2004) Discussion > What a great movie

What a great movie

posted 17 years ago by aeosrules
7 replies | jump to latest

What a gem of a film. I just watched it last night and I was captivated and mesmerized from start to finish! Matthew McFadyen is sublime, I had no clue what was going on which was great. I assumed a lot and started thinking that I had it figured out, then out of the blue, there is that scene where Paul picks up a girl in a bar and takes her home and puts the belt around his neck, I am going what!!!!!!! At the end, I was moved, saddened and thought the puzzle was so well knitted together. Brilliant performances from all and the cinematography was awesome, the directing was sensationa!!

Peace
Aeos

[–] NestOfNewts 17 years ago

I'm not sure what you are talking about. I don't recall a scene in the film where Paul picks up a girl and puts a belt around his neck.

[–] Rackon 17 years ago

The scene was cut from the R2 UK version.

It's apparently in the R4 Oz/Kiwi release and the German R2 DVD and BD.

Go figure. The Brits aren't usually prudish and the scene isn't graphic, although it's quite unsettling.

SPOILERS BELOW

The scene depicts a slightly kinky encounter with a belt and auto-asphyxiation. Paul picks up a bar girl and brings her home, for not quite the usual reasons. It's not particularly titilating in the context of the movie. It's more heartwrenching than anything else in that it shows you the depth of Paul's alienation and emotional damage. But it's important because at that point in the film it gives us some key insights to Paul's character and just how wounded he really is.

[–] NestOfNewts 17 years ago

Thanks for the explanation. I watched the UK version so didn't see the scene. Seems strange that it would be left out.

[–] aeosrules 16 years ago

You explained it perfectly for those who did not get to see this scene. It has almost been a year since I last saw this film and yet, I still think about it. A quiet haunting masterpiece.

Peace
Aeos

[–] StaySaneInsideInsanity 16 years ago

I watched it in my english class for a film study and every time we got to the belt scene the teacher would say loudly "girls you may look away if this makes you uncomfortable". It kinda wrecked that scene of the film for us.

"Darkness is so predictable, don't you think?"

[–] DameAlys 14 years ago

Whew...I should think it would!

In addition to the general silliness of this warning (who was really uncomfortable with this scene??), unless you were in an all-female class, I think your English teacher was engaging in some pretty sophomoric gender stereotyping, don't you?

She filled in the blank with her own childish diffidence....

[–] zee-la 12 years ago

yep! really amazing.