FATHER HOOD
US, 1993, 95 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Swayze, Halle Berry, Sabrina Lloyd, Brian Bonsall, Michael Ironside, Diane Ladd, Bob Bunton, Adrienne Barbeau.
Directed by Darrell J. Roodt.
Father Hood is a Patrick Swayze vehicle after his success in both Dirty Dancing and Ghost. Here he plays a rather unsympathetic character, a criminal who abandons his children. They appeal to his care for them after their mother dies, he abducts them and takes them on a road trip across America. He is pursued by a journalist who has his cause at heart and exposing the abuses at the orphanage where his children have been. He arrives in New Orleans, is about to pull off another job, is stopped by his concern for his children. There is a hearing – and he has cut a deal spending some time in jail, eventually to be reunited with the children.
The film is both serious and comic. Patrick Swayze does this kind of role quite easily. This is an early vehicle for Halle Berry. Sabrina Lloyd and Brian Bonsall are the children.
The film was directed by Darrell Roodt, the South African director who made a range of films including Serafina and the Oscar-nominated Yesterday.
1.The appeal of this film? Adult audiences? Children? Too serious for children?
2.The backgrounds, prison, orphanages, the journey across the United States, New Orleans, the courts? The musical score?
3.The title and its pun – Jack Charles and his fatherhood, as being a hood?
4.The portrait of Jack, his background, story about his own father and his disappearance, tough, criminal, repetitive crime? His wife, her death while he was in prison? The distance from his children? Getting out, the plans for another robbery? His promises – and his failures?
5.Kelly going to see him, his taking the children? The contact with Kathleen Mercer, thinking she was Irish, discussions with her, her phone calls? The adventures along the way, the clashes with his children, Eddie beginning to like his father, Kellie and her suspicions, her denial of anything happening to her in the orphanage? The comic touches with the caravan, the boat, being left behind, the pursuit and Jack jumping on the boat? Stealing the boat? The build-up to the final robbery, Jerry, his holding the gun on the man with the case, not firing? Giving himself up, the deal through Kathleen Mercer? His speech in the court, the attack on Lazzaro? Going to prison, the happy ending and the family being reunited?
6.Kathleen Mercer, the journalist, interested in exposing the orphanage and the abuses? The phone contacts, the calls? Her concern? The final meeting? Helping in court?
7.The children, their ages, their dead mother, hoping from their father? The suggestion to abduct them, going with their father, Kelly and her clashes? Eddie and his liking his father? The final confrontation at the robbery? In the court? The truth about Lazzaro and the abuse of Kelly?
8.The various characters in support: the staff at the orphanage, the abuse, Lazzaro and his being in charge, his protests in the court? Jack’s girlfriends? Jerry and his being a partner in the robbery? The driver to help Jack pursue the boat …?
9.A popular comedy? The serious themes about parenting and family?
