My dad loved watching movies. Most of them just to have something to watch, but some of them because they held a special place in his heart. Today’s a special day because it’s his 55th birthday – the first birthday without him being around.
My dad passed away at the end of last year, after he got sick. A few months ago, I asked him what his favorite movies were. So in honor of him: a short post about my dad’s favorite movies.
The taste in movies between me and my dad was different. He (mostly) loved the movies that weren’t mainstream, whereas I pretty much only watch mainstream movies. He liked indie, foreign, drama but also action or romance. He loved watching movies about food or cooking or movies with a spiritual touch. I loved watching them with him.
Brad Pitt stars in this movie, based on the real-life story of Heinrich Harrer. This Austrian man was a mountain climber who befriended the Dalai Lama. My dad was very interested in Tibetan culture, so it makes sense that he loved this movie.
Genre: Adventure, biography, drama
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Cast: Brad Pitt
Runtime: 2 hours, 16 minutes
IMDb score: 7,1
RottenTomatoes: 60%
I love food and cooking. So did my dad. We’ve probably seen every movie about food or cooking and my dad liked every single one of them. This one a bit more than others. It’s about an Indian family that opens a restaurant with a menu filled with Indian food while being on the other side of the street (hence, the hundred-foot) of a French Michelin-star restaurant.
Genre: Comedy, drama
Director: Lasse Hallström
Cast: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte le Bon
Runtime: 2 hours, 2 minutes
IMDb score: 7,3
RottenTomatoes: 67%
Ever wanted to own your own vineyard in France? I think we all do! When this happens to a British investment broker who inherits his uncle’s vineyard, he tries to enjoy his new life in France as he renovates the chateau. My dad had dreams about moving to France or Italy and renovating a home, but it remained a dream. Movies like this made me want to immigrate too.
Genre: Comedy, drama, romance
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Russel Crowe, Marion Cottilard, Freddie Highmore
Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes
IMDb score: 7,0
RottenTomatoes: 25%
My dad has always loved dogs. The countless number of stories of the dogs my grandparents had, I loved hearing them! We have seen a few dog movies in the last years, but none of them were as beautiful as Hachi. Hachi is based on the true story of a college professor who bonds with a Japanese Akita.
Genre: Drama, family
Director: Lasse Hallström
Cast: Richard Gere, Joan Allen
Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes
IMDb score: 8,1
RottenTomatoes: 64%
Happy birthday dad, thinking a bit more about you today♥
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