In a Dream

This is a good film about the directors father who is a half mad folk artist and his family. For me it fell between 2 horses. We did not get to see enough of his art or rather we did not get to see enough of the development of his art. It shows the daily journals but not so much what is in them. Also you never really get a feel for exactly how much work the father has created. A short segment going from building to building, enumerating the work or putting a timeline to the process. Even highlighting elements in the mosaics as chronological portrayals of particular family moments. I would have liked to have seen him sourcing his materials or some discussion on the materials he has used or tried but that did not happen. The art is one horses in this film.

The second horse is the family drama that arises from a father who is a bit mad and the effect it has on his family. The stresses and strains of dealing with relationships in everyday life. For me this did not hit the mark either as there was not enough of an examination into it as if the director (son) was a little reticent to ask difficult and probing questions. So it is a picture postcard from a family with problems rather than an examination or drama.

A good film that for me fell between 2 horses and did not completely satisfy on either front. Still a brave thing for a son to do, there are very few films like this and I very much enjoyed the fathers work.