Paul, a prize-winning war journalist, returns to his remote New Zealand hometown due to the death of his father, battle-scarred and world-weary. For the discontented sixteen-year-old Celia he opens up a world she has only dreamed of. She actively pursues a friendship with him, fascinated by his cynicism and experience of the world beyond her small-town existence. But many, including the members of both their families, frown upon the friendship and when Celia goes missing, Paul becomes the increasingly loathed and persecuted prime suspect in her disappearance. As the violent and urgent truth gradually emerges, Paul is forced to confront the family tragedy and betrayal that he ran from as a youth, and to face the grievous consequences of silence and secrecy that has surrounded his entire adult life.

In My Father's Den (2004)
  • Rating: (4,083 votes)
  • Tagline:Who you set out to be isn't always who you become. »
  • Runtime:127 minutes
  • Director: Brad McGann
  • Countries:New Zealand, UK
  • Actors:
    Paul Prior
    Matthew Macfadyen
    Penny
    Miranda Otto
    Celia Steimer
    Emily Barclay
    Andrew
    Colin Moy
    Jonathon
    Jimmy Keen
    Jackie
    Jodie Rimmer
    Paul as a teenager
    Toby Alexander
    Ms Seagar
    Vicky Haughton
    Andrew as a teenager
    Nicholas Hayward
    Andrew as a child
    Liam Herbert
  • Genres:Mystery, Drama, Thriller
  • Producers:
    Trevor Haysom
    producer  
    Dixie Linder
    producer  
    James Mitchell
    executive producer  
    Paul Mitchell
    executive producer  
    Jim Reeve
    executive producer  
    Steve Robbins
    executive producer  
    Sue Bruce Smith
    executive producer  
    Paul Trijbits
    executive producer  
  • Plots: Paul, a prize-winning war journalist, returns to his remote New Zealand hometown due to the death of his father, battle-scarred and world-weary. For the discontented sixteen-year-old Celia he opens up a world she has only dreamed of. She actively pursues a friendship with him, fascinated by his cynicism and experience of the world beyond her small-town existence. But many, including the members of both their families, frown upon the friendship and when Celia goes missing, Paul becomes the increasingly loathed and persecuted prime suspect in her disappearance. As the violent and urgent truth gradually emerges, Paul is forced to confront the family tragedy and betrayal that he ran from as a youth, and to face the grievous consequences of silence and secrecy that has surrounded his entire adult life. Written by bondish
In My Father's Den
  • User's comment:Brilliant by suze-16

    Having had to do NZ fiction at school over a decade ago and hating it, I was not sure what to expect with this film. It has made me want to go and buy the book and get back into the wonder of my country's literary heritage... but that's another story.

    This film is beautiful. It's tense, funny (some of the cameos for kiwi's to look out for additional fun!)... it takes you into the heart and soul of the characters. The two main characters are portrayed so wonderfully, you feel you're an extension of them.

    Not knowing the story probably helped as I was not expecting everything that comes to pass (don't want to spoil anything). The movie, though desperate at some times, makes you feel somewhat uplifted. Hope. By the way, does anyone know who did the painting? I loved it.


  • Quotes: Celia Steimer: [voiceover] One day, in a town on the edge of the world, the tide went out and never returned. The sea just left without warning. Andrew: You think you're the one being decent? Swanning in here like some film star with your accent... Paul Prior: You know nothing about me.
  • Also known as: Um Refúgio no Passado (Brazil), Um Refúgio no Passado (Portugal - imdb display title), Als das Meer verschwand (Germany), Apám sufnija (Hungary - imdb display title), I sanningens spår (Sweden), Totuuden jäljillä (Finland - imdb display title),

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