Each year red jet films of Seattle attends IDFA – International Documentary Festival Amsterdam. In November 2008, two Americans now living in Berlin - Directors Rick Minnich and Matt Sweetwood, produced my personal favorite and winner of the IDFA Special Jury Award - "Forgetting Dad".
"One week after a seemingly harmless car accident, a 45-year-old man loses his memory. He christens himself "New Richard" and begins a new life with a new wife far away from his old family. Sixteen years later, his filmmaker son Rick Minnich returns to investigate why his father's memory never returned."
My husband Jeff and I got to spend several moments with Rick and Matt after the world premiere of "Forgetting Dad". Although Rick now lives in Berlin, his story begins in California – where he grew up – and ends in a tiny town in Oregon. All the more interesting for us since we've ridden our Harley to each and every spot that the story takes place and unfolds.
"Forgetting Dad" is a beautifully produced, well told story of one man's journey to find answers to questions that have haunted him and his family since amnesia took his Father from them. I walked away reminded once again of the fragility of life, of perceptions and misperceptions, family dynamics, secrets, dysfunction - and that life is not delivered to us wrapped up in a neat, tidy, uncomplicated little package.
It has been about four months since I had the pleasure of seeing this movie – and am surprised that I still think about it on a weekly basis. It is definitely worth the time to seek out and watch "Forgetting Dad".
"One week after a seemingly harmless car accident, a 45-year-old man loses his memory. He christens himself "New Richard" and begins a new life with a new wife far away from his old family. Sixteen years later, his filmmaker son Rick Minnich returns to investigate why his father's memory never returned."
My husband Jeff and I got to spend several moments with Rick and Matt after the world premiere of "Forgetting Dad". Although Rick now lives in Berlin, his story begins in California – where he grew up – and ends in a tiny town in Oregon. All the more interesting for us since we've ridden our Harley to each and every spot that the story takes place and unfolds.
"Forgetting Dad" is a beautifully produced, well told story of one man's journey to find answers to questions that have haunted him and his family since amnesia took his Father from them. I walked away reminded once again of the fragility of life, of perceptions and misperceptions, family dynamics, secrets, dysfunction - and that life is not delivered to us wrapped up in a neat, tidy, uncomplicated little package.
It has been about four months since I had the pleasure of seeing this movie – and am surprised that I still think about it on a weekly basis. It is definitely worth the time to seek out and watch "Forgetting Dad".