27 April 2013

The Best Father-Daughter Relationships in Film (The Look Of Love)


The Look of Love documents the life of Soho’s king, Paul Raymond – the one time richest man in Britain, self made millionaire, property owner, publisher, nightclub order, husband, lover and father. Raymond’s reputation as a ladies’ man may precede him, but despite his flaws it is undeniable that relationship with his daughter Debbie was the most important aspect of his multifaceted life. She was not only his heir and undoubtedly the apple of his eye, and his motivation. The Look of Love stars Steve Coogan, Anna Friel and Imogen Poots and to mark it’s release, here’s a countdown of the best father-daughter relationships on the big screen.


Matt King in The Descendants (2012)


George Clooney plays a father whose wife is left in a coma after an accident. Although he had never been hands-on dad, he is left to take care of his two young daughters, the eldest of which is a rebellious teenager. When shocking secrets about his wife’s life come to light, the family are forced to pull together, re-examining the past and embracing their new future together whilst Matt has to make the difficult decision regarding his family’s ancestral land.


Doctor Poulain in Amelie (2001)


Amelie was never close to her father. A stern army doctor, the only time she was ever close to him was during her annual check up – something so exciting that it caused her heart to pound and led her perents to believe that she has a defect! A recluse since the death of Amelie’s mother, he spent his autumn years collecting garden ornaments and making shrines to his wife, until, in a bid to bring some colour into his life, Amelie secretly gives her father’s favourite gnome to her air hostess, who takes him on her travels, sending back pictures of the cheery fellow in various exotic locations, to his bemusement.


George Banks in Father of The Bride (1991)


Steve Martin plays a father struggling with the idea of giving his daughter away, wracked with the idea that her future husband is now taking the place of the most important man in her life. However, in the end he realises that she is always going to need him, and that he will always be there for her no matter what.


Daddy Warbucks in Annie (1982)


Oliver ‘Daddy’ Wharbucks was a self-proclaimed bachelor – he never wanted children or anyone to share his millions with. That was until Annie, the feisty red-headed orphan came into her life. Initially she was nothing more than a photo opportunity for Wharbucks, staying in his mansion for a week in a bid to boost his image. However, he is soon won over by her charm and intelligence, rescuing her from the orphanage and adopting her as his own.


Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)


The southern lawyer is a single father who brings his daughters up with compassion and kindness, teaching his children to treat all people with equality and respect – valuable life lessons with gems such as: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."


Wink in Beasts of the Southern Wild (2013)


The young hushpuppy’s relationship with her hot-headed father is strained at times, but when melting ice-claps flood her ramshackle community ‘The Bathtub’ and unleash ancient creatures, Wink goes to extreme efforts to solidify his daughter’s independence despite his ailing health.


Mose in Paper Moon (1973)


When travelling con-man stumbles across a funeral, the striking resemblance between himself and the orphaned child of the dead woman means that he is reluctantly persuaded that the pair are somehow related, and he is charged with delivering the her back to her aunt’s in Missouri. The intelligent Addie soon realises that Mose is not the wandering preacher that he professes himself to be, and the pair become a fantastic team – making money in every dishonest way imaginable, meeting a variety of colourful characters along the way.


Jean Valjean in Les Miserables (2013)


Fantine, a worker in Valjean’s factory is unceremoniously cast into the street on the discovery that she has an illegitimate child, and subsequently forced into a life of prostitution in order to provide for her, which leads to her death. On discovering this, Valjean is wracked with guilt and vows to become little Cosette’s protector, rescuing her from her abusive step-parents and treating her like a daughter – she becomes the centre of his world.


The Look of Love comes is out now in UK cinemas Read our review


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