There is so much a person goes through when you are raised by a single mother. The trials you face emotionally and mentally as you ask yourself why the missing parent does not acknowledge your existence and/or does not return. Is it your fault? Is it your mother’s fault?
Nick Flynn (Paul Demo) is raised by a single mother, Jody (Julianne Moore) who is waiting for his father, Jonathan (Robert De Niro) to come back. She pines for a man she refers to as a writer – even when there is no evidence the man even writes.
The only thing that Nick has to show that his father exists is letters that arrive without fail – he has collected over a 100 letters from this mysterious man when his mother dies. He is a young writer and wants to define himself however Nick struggles with “not being” his father.
Being Flynn is adapted from Nick Flynn ‘s 2004 memoir
Another Bulls*t Night in Suck City which explores his memories of his late mother, the challenges he faces after his mother passes and how his father reappeared in his life after 18 years of him being an imaginary figure.
The movie explores the bonds both unbreakable and fragile between parent and child. Jody has a loving nature and adored him whilst the stranger before him is distant and is a megalomaniac with delusions that he is an amazing writer.
Whilst Nick tries to define himself as a complete opposite to his father – he struggles with the similarities. His father is an addict, bigot and racist – hates gay and black people Nick moves in with a black man and a gay man in an abandoned club.
As Nick works for a shelter for homeless people, Jonathan’s troubles escalate as his life falls apart and Nick is forced to save his father – he also has no clue why he feels the need to do this for a man who abandoned his mother and him so many years ago.
I loved the movie and will give it 4.5/5 Segs stars for the emotions it brings up as I could relate to these challenges. It is quite an artsy movie.
The movie starts on the 8th June 2012 at Ster-Kinekor theaters.
Director: Paul Weitz
Tagline: We are all works in progress
Censorship: Rated R (16LVSD) for language throughout, some sexual content, drug use, and brief nudity
Movie length: 1 hour 42 minutes
IMDB Score: 6.8/10
Genre: Comedy, Drama