Daddy Nostalgie (1990) - film review

Caroline, a scriptwriter living in Paris, learns that her father has just had a serious operation.  Anxious to heal the rift in their relationship, she rejoins her parents at their home in the south of France.  Whilst her father has been busy pursuing a successful career as a businessman, Caroline has been denied the parental affection she craves.  Hoping she can make up for lost time, she attempts to get to know her father better.  But there is so little time left to them…

A beautifully understated portrait of a father-daughter relationship, Daddy nostalgie affords English-born actress Jane Birkin one of her most memorable screen roles.  Here she stars opposite the highly regarded English actor Dirk Bogarde in his final film appearance before his death in 1999.  Both actors are at the height of their powers and together they make this a compelling film, heart-felt but not overly sentimental.  Bertrand Tavernier co-wrote the script – one of his best – with his ex-wife Colo.   Tavernier’s own father, the writer René Tavernier, died when the film was being made, adding a personal note of poignancy to one of this director’s most emotionally engaging films.

© James Travers 2004

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