In My Father's Footsteps is a heart-warming drama movie that follows the journey of a young man, Nick (Michael Brennan), as he discovers the truth about his family's past and reconciles with the father he thought he knew. The story revolves around Nick, who decides to retrace the steps of his estranged father, a Vietnam War veteran, who passed away before Nick was born. Nick's mother had always described his father as a distant and troubled man, haunted by his war experiences, and Nick had grown up feeling resentful towards him, blaming him for not being in his life.
As Nick embarks on his journey, he meets several people who help him along the way, including a friendly bar owner, Clayton (Gwilym Davies), who introduces him to the wartime buddies of his father, and a young woman named Rachel (Cosy Comfort), who shares her own struggles with him. Through these interactions, Nick begins to understand the complexities of his father's past and how it has affected not only his father but also the people around him.
One of the most touching moments in the movie is when Nick meets Pierre (Pierre Kisters), a French farmer who had befriended Nick's father during the war. Pierre shares with Nick the story of how he and Nick's father had saved each other's lives and how Nick's father had promised to someday find him and repay his kindness. Nick learns that his father had made several attempts to visit Pierre over the years but had always been overcome by his demons and had never made it.
As Nick gets closer to understanding his father, he becomes more desperate to make amends with him. He confronts the harsh realities of war in a series of flashbacks that take him back to Vietnam, and he discovers the extent of his father's trauma. Nick realizes that he has inherited more than his father's good looks but also his father's pain, which explains his own struggles with anger and addiction.
As Nick comes to terms with his own inner demons, he is finally ready to face his father. In a touching scene, Nick visits the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C., where he finds his father's name and reads to him a letter he had written to him. In the letter, Nick expresses his love and gratitude for his father's sacrifices and ends with the words, "I forgive you, Dad."
In My Father's Footsteps is a well-crafted movie that tackles complex issues of war, trauma, father-son relationships, and forgiveness with sensitivity and grace. Michael Brennan delivers an excellent performance as Nick, conveying the character's transformation from a troubled young man to a mature and empathetic adult. The supporting cast also does an excellent job, with Gwilym Davies providing some much-needed humor, and Cosy Comfort bringing a sense of calm and compassion to the story.
Overall, In My Father's Footsteps is a heart-warming and thought-provoking movie that will leave viewers with a renewed appreciation for the sacrifices that veterans and their families make.
In My Father's Footsteps is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 49 minutes.