Dad's Dead
Encyclopedia
Dad's Dead is a seven minute award winning film written and directed by Chris Shepherd
, commissioned by animate!. Since its first transmission on Channel 4
, in 2003, the film has achieved a cult
status. Mixing animation with live action in a unique style, it deals with how memory works.
On 27 August 2007, Dad's Dead was released as an extra on the DVD release of Danny Boyle
's science fiction film Sunshine
.
plays the narrator, an urban storyteller who relives his youth in 1970s and 80s Liverpool
.
The narrator opens by asking the viewer if they ever think about the people they went to school with. He goes on to talk about his "best mate", Johnno, a popular and rebellious boy at school. However, Johnno turns out to be a thoroughly obnoxious and violent person, frequently swindling, stealing, vandalizing property and generally committing antisocial acts. He apparently enjoys cruelty to animals
, throwing hamsters and cats off high-rise flats and bricking ducks. Johnno once confused the narrator by falsely telling him his father had died (hence the film's title).
The film then shows Johnno (whose face distorts into an ugly caricature every time he commits an unpleasant act) first beating up the narrator, then inviting him to the house of a "mate" — a blind man who thinks Johnno is his best friend, while Johnno in fact vandalizes his house, leaves maggot-infested food in his kitchen and even spits on him, all without the man being aware of it. The climax of the film has Johnno leaving the narrator unconscious as he burns
the blind man's apartment — a crime for which the narrator is wrongly imprisoned. At the end, the narrator's elderly mother is shown answering the door to her Meals on Wheels
carer - who turns out to be Johnno, laughing nastily as he enters the old woman's home.
An animate! commission funded by Arts Council England
and Channel 4
.
Chris Shepherd
Chris Shepherd is a BAFTA nominated television/film writer and director. Born in Anfield, Liverpool in 1967. He is mainly known for combining live action with animation. His work fuses comedy with commentary on the darker side of human nature....
, commissioned by animate!. Since its first transmission on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, in 2003, the film has achieved a cult
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
status. Mixing animation with live action in a unique style, it deals with how memory works.
On 27 August 2007, Dad's Dead was released as an extra on the DVD release of Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle
Daniel "Danny" Boyle is an English filmmaker and producer. He is best known for his work on films such as Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Trainspotting. For Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle won numerous awards in 2008, including the Academy Award for Best Director...
's science fiction film Sunshine
Sunshine (2007 film)
Sunshine is a 2007 British science fiction film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland about the crew of a spacecraft on a dangerous mission to the Sun. In 2057, with the Earth in peril from the dying Sun, the crew is sent to reignite the Sun with a massive stellar bomb with the mass...
.
Synopsis
Ian HartIan Hart
Ian Hart is an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:Hart, the grandson of Irish immigrants, was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He is one of three siblings and was brought up in a Roman Catholic family...
plays the narrator, an urban storyteller who relives his youth in 1970s and 80s Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
The narrator opens by asking the viewer if they ever think about the people they went to school with. He goes on to talk about his "best mate", Johnno, a popular and rebellious boy at school. However, Johnno turns out to be a thoroughly obnoxious and violent person, frequently swindling, stealing, vandalizing property and generally committing antisocial acts. He apparently enjoys cruelty to animals
Cruelty to animals
Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse or animal neglect, is the infliction of suffering or harm upon non-human animals, for purposes other than self-defense. More narrowly, it can be harm for specific gain, such as killing animals for food or for their fur, although opinions differ with...
, throwing hamsters and cats off high-rise flats and bricking ducks. Johnno once confused the narrator by falsely telling him his father had died (hence the film's title).
The film then shows Johnno (whose face distorts into an ugly caricature every time he commits an unpleasant act) first beating up the narrator, then inviting him to the house of a "mate" — a blind man who thinks Johnno is his best friend, while Johnno in fact vandalizes his house, leaves maggot-infested food in his kitchen and even spits on him, all without the man being aware of it. The climax of the film has Johnno leaving the narrator unconscious as he burns
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
the blind man's apartment — a crime for which the narrator is wrongly imprisoned. At the end, the narrator's elderly mother is shown answering the door to her Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels are programs that deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. The name is often used generically to refer to home-delivered meals programs, not all of which are actually named "Meals on Wheels"...
carer - who turns out to be Johnno, laughing nastily as he enters the old woman's home.
2003
- Winner of Best Short Film, British Independent Film AwardsBritish Independent Film Awards 2003The 6th British Independent Film Awards, given on 4 November 2003 at the Hammersmith Palais, London, honoured the best British independent films of 2003.-Winners:*Best Actor:**Chiwetel Ejiofor - Dirty Pretty Things*Best Actress:...
- Winner of The Quantel Animation Award at Rushes Soho Shorts Festival
- Winner of The Metropolis Prize at L’Isola Del Cinema Festival in Rome, Italy
- Winner of The Grand Prize at Cabbagetown Film & Video Festival, Toronto
- Winner of The Encouragement Award at Fantoche International Animation Fest. Switzerland
- Winner of Special Video Award at Split International Festival of New Film, Croatia
- Winner of Best Independent Animation Award at FAN International Animation Festival, Norwich
- Winner of Best Animation Award at Kino International Film Festival, Manchester
- Winner of Best Professional Film Award at BAF! International Animation Festival, Bradford
- Winner of Special Prize at DaKino Film Festival, Romania
- Winner of Third Prize at Animadrid, IV International Animation Festival, Spain
2004
- Nominated for Best Animation Short, BAFTA Film Awards
- Winner of Best Short Film at the British Animation Awards
- Winner of Best film at Cutting Edge, British Animation Awards
- Winner of Honourable Mention (Editing) at Carolina Film and Video Festival, USA
- Winner of Best Film, Pitcher and Piano Awards, London
- Winner of Honourable Mention at Ann Arbor Film FestivalAnn Arbor Film FestivalThe Ann Arbor Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Ann Arbor in the U.S. state of Michigan. Established in 1963, it is the third-oldest film festival in North America ; and the oldest experimental film festival...
, USA - Winner of Honourable Mention at Bermuda International Film Festival, USA
- Winner of Silver Remi Award at Worldfest Houston International Film Festival, USA
- Honourable Mention at Los Angeles International Film Festival, USA
An animate! commission funded by Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
DVD releases
- Shorts! Volume 1 December 2003. USA. Region 1. ASIN:B00013UGE6. As part of compilation with The Making Of Dad's Dead and director's commentary.
- onedotzero_selectdvd2 January 2004. UK. All regions. ASIN:B000189K80. As part of a compilation with The Making Of Dad's Dead.
- Animatic Volume 1 2004. France. Reperages Magagzine. All regions. As part of a compilation.
- Sunshine August 2007. UK. Region 2. ASIN:B000S6UZEM. As extra.
- Sunshine October 2007. UK. Region 2. Blue Ray. ASIN:B000VIRD6U. As extra.
- Sunshine January 2008. USA. Region 1. ASIN:B000Y7U98C. As extra.
- Sunshine January 2008. USA. Region 1. Blue Ray. ASIN:B000Y7U98W. As extra.
- Motion Blur 2 January 2008. UK. All regions. ISBN 1856695093. Interview and feature on director with film on DVD.
Sources
- http://www.dadsdead.com
- http://www.chrisshepherdfilms.com
- animate!: Dad's Dead
- http://www.sundancechannel.com/film/?ixFilmID=6873
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/A8659407
- http://www.realmovienews.com/dvd/news/1231