Daddy Nostalgie (1990)

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

Colo Tavernier (story)
Colo Tavernier (dialogue) ...

Release Date:

May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The setting is the Riviera in autumn. A retired English businessman has just been through heart surgery but it has...

Plot Keywords:

English | French Riviera | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Dirk Bogarde	...	Daddy
Jane Birkin	...	Caroline
Odette Laure	...	Miche
Emmanuelle Bataille	...	Juliette
Charlotte Kady	...	Barbara
Michele Minns	...	Caroline, as a child
Sophie Dalezio	...	Nurse #1
Sylvie Segalas	...	Nurse #2
Hélène Lefumat	...	Dame Hopital
Andrée Duranson	...	Yvonne
Raymond Defendente	...	Jimmy
Fabrice Roux	...	Fisherman
Gilbert Guerrero	...	Garcon Restaurant
Louis Ducreux	...	Mr. Metro

Also Known As:

Daddy Nostalgia (USA)
These Foolish Things
Daddy Nostalgie (Finland) [fi]
Glykia nostalgia (Greece) [el]
Herinneringen aan een voorbije tijd (Netherlands) [nl]
Nuestros días felices (Argentina) [es]

Runtime:

USA:105 min | Argentina:105 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Cléa Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cinemania (2002)

Soundtrack:

These Foolish Things

Daddy Nostalgie is a bittersweet glimpse into one family's struggle to be a family.

Daddy Nostalgie centers its attention on Jane Birkin's character, Caroline, who is a successful screenwriter based in Paris. As the story opens, she receives a call from her mother explaining that her father is in the hospital recovering from heart surgery. Tony Russell, her father, played by Dirk Bogarde in his final role, was a successful international salesman who had to spend much of his career traveling abroad. Caroline, ever the dutiful daughter, then travels to the Cote d'Azur to be by her parents' side during this family crisis. During this time, Caroline finally has a chance to get to know her father for what might be the first time.

While most films tend to gloss over the more complex and lasting aspects of familial relationships, this film focuses on them. In life, every action is steeped in history, and every action carries with it consequences for good and/or for ill. This film is true to that reality. Daddy Nostalgie examines how people live with the consequences of their actions, how those consequences often echo through the generations, and how we can both love and hate someone at the same time.

What makes this film superior is how the director is able to show the emotional complexity of the characters. They are forced to confront many opposites, such as love and hate, life and death, marriage and divorce. While struggling to remain calm on the surface, each character must try to suppress the emotions being churned up within. Tavernier is able to show how everyone is successful, but only to a point, of maintaining such a false front. All are trying to hide their feelings from the others, but also from themselves. And it is why and how they maintain these facades that make this film both interesting and bittersweet.