In Alessandro Chillé’s odd short film, Father Figures, our protagonist Harold (Steven Hauck) makes money on the side as a “dad for hire.” The gig is pretty simple. You hire Harold for the hour, and he becomes your father for whatever paternal reason.
The film opens with a son telling his deceased father (insert Harold) about his fiancee. Cut to Harold at his client’s daughter’s birthday party, helping her blow out the candles, and lastly, he becomes the target of a son’s rage over his drunken father.
“You hire Harold for the hour, and he becomes your father for whatever paternal reason.”
Father Figures is a touching story of fathers and fatherhood. Fathers come in all forms…loving, imperfect… non-existent. The idea of a rent-a-dad is an intriguing one, and Father Figures takes this idea to its local conclusion.
Steven Hauck gives a stirring and empathetic portrayal of every dad with a hang-up of his own. Chillé’s script is equally stirring and may stir up your memories (or lack thereof) of your father and the father you may become.
