The Deadness of Dad

It's a real shame that this wonderful picture is not available on video and didn't received not one major award. It's a beautiful - beautiful - beautiful picture. This very sad story is about a little boy, who doesn't want to resign to his father's death and believes that his father's twin brother is a dad himself. Full of nostalgic melodies of 50's and 60's this picture is amazing meditation on themes of childhood. Try to find it somewhere - this film is one of the best shorts I've ever seen (and I've seen 'em a lot).

This is the story of a young boy (around 8 or 9 years of age) who loses his Dad. This tragic event is set in the backdrop of the Welsh Valleys of the early 60s. The young boy finds it hard to accept that his Dad has gone and one day he comes home from school to find his Dad in the kitchen chatting to his Mam. His Mam tells him it is his Dads twin brother but the boy does not believe it or does not wish to believe it. The soundtrack of the 50s & 60s music is great, the Everly Brothers "Let it be Me" & Gerry & The Pacemakers "Dont Let the Sun see you Cry" being two songs that I remember. Rhys Ifans is in one of his earliest roles. Although the film is only 30 mins, you just remember it. The writing is great. It is just so touching, if you put yourself in the boy's position that his Dad has gone but he has one last chance to see him, as he believes his Dad has come back from Heaven one last time to say goodbye. Bless.

The above fan comments that the film did not receive any awards. As the writer of this short I am happy to report it won several including the Celtic Film Festival Best Short Film, and the British Academy Award (BAFTA) for Best Short Film.

This short film is a masterclass in casting; in showing-not-telling, and in finding the exact visual image to convey the emotional state of its characters.The concept - a child seeking proof that his recently dead father's twin is really his own father returned to life - is original and clever. The sparse dialogue never drives the story, comedy and sadness are artfully intermingled, and the film has a huge emotional heart (so often lacking in short film). I can't see anyone left unmoved when the child finally accepts his bereavement and moves on with his life. I've been using it to teach short film at degree level for ten years, and I've seen many, many shorts. I rate it as one of the best I've encountered. It well deserved the BAFTA it got.