Portrait of My Father
(El retrato de mi padre)
Juan Ignacio Fernández Hoppe | Documentary, Thriller
2022 | 99 minutes | Uruguay
Thirty years after his father’s mysterious death, the filmmaker embarks on a quest for the truth in this exploration of loss, depression, and love.
Synopsis
Juan Ignacio Fernández Hoppe's journey begins with a childhood tragedy: his father's mysterious death at a beach, surrounded by psychotropic medication. Despite the possibility of suicide, Juan's mother, a psychiatrist, decides against an autopsy. This pivotal moment shapes Juan's life, leaving him with unanswered questions as he grows up.
Thirty years later, armed with a box of his father's belongings, Juan embarks on a quest to unravel his father's identity. He discovers a multifaceted man: a unique musician and a compassionate music therapist for disabled teenagers.
Using a minimalist approach in his filmmaking, Juan interviews family members against a blank white backdrop, presenting personal items like artifacts. Each lead he pursues adds a layer to his father's story, from contacting former pupils and colleagues to uncovering deep, lasting impacts. Through this process, Juan's film evolves into a poignant exploration of loss, depression, and love.
Reviews
“A son seeks to understand the death of his father in a documentary thriller that is the best of Uruguayan cinema.”— Fernán Cisnero, El País
“A stirring film, one of those that expand over time and gain depth.”— Emanuel Bremermann, El Observador
“The end of the film is one of the best final shots that Uruguayan cinema has given.”— Agustín Acevedo Kanopa, La Diaria
“An intimate documentary, a superlative family x-ray and a kind of autopsy that was so long-awaited.”— Hernán Cabral, Bo mirá
“Portrait of My Father is a deep, emotional and memorable work.”— Diego Faraone, Brecha
“Formally rigorous and intimate” — María Campania Rammia, IDFA
“A very beautiful and healing ending” — David Obarrio, BAFICI
Citation
Coming soon.
Cataloging
A MARC record for this title is not available yet.
Pragda subjects
Biography
Culture + Identity
Family
Health + Aging
Mental Health
South America
Urban Studies
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Iberoamerican Film Festival Miami - Documentary Award Winner; International Austral Film Festival - Outstanding Film Direction, Script, and Art Direction; SiberiaDoc International Film Festival - Special Mention; Uruguayan Film Critics Association Awards - Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Script, Best Editing, Best Cinematography; IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam; Málaga Film Festival; BAFICI Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema; DocsMX; SiberiaDoc International
DIRECTOR: Juan Ignacio Fernández Hoppe
NATIONALITY: Uruguay
YEAR: 2022
GENRE: Documentary, Thriller
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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