Daddy Nostalgia
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: B-
Bertrand Tavernier may have been more challenging as a
filmmaker earlier in his career, but his 1990 drama Daddy Nostalgia is
sappier and more melodramatic than even he is known for being. The film is about a daughter (Jane Birkin)
and father (Dirk Bogarde in his last film role) coming together after he has
had a serious surgery and she has divorced.
She is a screenwriter, though little is made of this.
In French and more English than expected, it is the usual
back and forth in which the characters “learn” about themselves and each other,
but the acting and some of the screenplay brings this above the usual
clichés. Furthermore, it is a rich-looking
film with better directing merit of the kind that should be expected from the
likes of Tavernier. Birkin was a
respected actress early on, but her beauty got in the way of that respect. Now, she can be appreciated more for her
talents, while Bogarde is as good here as he always is. It is for those reasons this film is worth
seeing.
The letterboxed 2.35 X 1 image was shot nicely by Denis
Lenoir, but this transfer does not do enough justice to it by simply not being
anamorphic. The Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo has little in the way of surrounds, but records the dialogue adequately
enough. The only extras are a stills
section and interview with Jane Birkin, shown letterboxed in 16 X 9/1.78 X 1
and runs about 35 minutes.
- Nicholas Sheffo
