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Matthew MacFadyen, Miranda Otto, Emily Barclay, Colin Moy, Jodie Rimmer ... see more see more... , Vicky Haughton , Jimmy Keen , Asher Emanuel , Liam Herbert , Mabel Wharekawa , Matthew Chamberlain , Nicholas Hayward , Peter Hishon , Toby Alexander , Vanessa Riddell

In My Father's Den (2005), a universally acclaimed New Zealand feature, swept over 15 international honors and virtually owned the 2005 New Zealand Film Awards. This intelligently crafted, penetrating... read more read more... drama travels in the footsteps of such masterpieces as The Myth of Fingerprints, In the Bedroom, and The Son's Room by detailing an indigenous, scarred family's attempt to heal from age-old wounds. The haunting story begins with war journalist Paul (Matthew MacFadyen), who returns to his childhood home to bury his father. Although few words are spoken, the pain and resentment of past traumas continue to sear and burn in Paul's mind, and become rapidly evident via Paul's struggles to interact normally with his brother (Colin Moy) and eerily laconic sister-in-law (the celebrated Miranda Otto). Upon moving into a local cottage, Paul feels somewhat validated and encouraged when he inadvertently (and innocently) befriends a teenager, Celia (Emily Barclay), an intelligent girl with a love of books who starts to borrow volumes from Paul's personal library; they share a distaste for the community and its people, and a difficulty with social adjustment. But when Celia goes missing, and all fingers in the narrow-minded, gossip-ridden small town point in Paul's direction, the bough starts to break for the young man. In an effort to clear the accusations, Paul starts an informal investigation, from which the unspoken secrets of his family's past and the mystery of Celia's absence will ultimately dovetail into a tragic discovery. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Flixster Users

89% liked it

4,436 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

9 critics

R, 2 hr. 6 min.

Directed by: Brad McGann

Release Date: June 10, 2005

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DVD Release Date: November 6, 2007

Stats: 315 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (315)

  • imrealgod
    February 9, 2010
    imrealgod
    Could have been better. A brisker pace & a well thought/executed ending would have been of great help.
  • mvieaddict
    August 22, 2009
    mvieaddict
    Image and video hosting by TinyPicfor sexual content, language, some violence and drug use.

    I found this movie very emotional and sensitive.The performances from the ... read moreentire cast were amazing, the lead characters, all unknown for me, Emily Barclay (as Celia) and Mathew MacFadyen (as Paul Prior) I found the scenes tbetween them was so pleasant to watch. The remarkable of this movie was the creation of the characters which was totally believable of real live. Strange ending although. Very good. Love it.

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Critic Reviews

Ray Bennett
July 5, 2005
Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter

Beautifully filmed and totally absorbing mystery about family secrets.

Joe Utichi
July 5, 2005
Joe Utichi, FilmFocus

Both compulsive and entertaining, striking a perfect balance between drama and thriller and serving up a story that's instantly worth following. Full Review

Matthew Turner
June 25, 2005
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

A cleverly structured, smartly written film that holds your attention to the end and delivers a powerful emotional kick Full Review

Nev Pierce
June 14, 2005
Nev Pierce, BBC

The tale of a prodigal son, misunderstanding and tragedy, this Den is well worth exploring. Full Review

Rich Cline
April 6, 2005
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Powerfully involving, even if it's also rather heavy-going and sneaky. Full Review

Russell Edwards
April 3, 2009
Russell Edwards, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

June 24, 2005
Independent

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June 24, 2005
Empire Magazine

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June 18, 2005
Future Movies UK

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October 25, 2004
Sunday Times (Australia)

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