Postcard To Daddy
Synopsis english
As a child, Michael Stock was sexually abused – by his own father. 25 years later he is still looking for inner peace. In conversations with his family and friends and his own reflections, he paints an ever clearer, if contradictory picture of what happened and of the consequences for each of the family members. Old family films seem to show a happy family – excerpts from Michael’s first feature film hint at his extreme adult life, overshadowed by his lifelong trauma.
Yet in spite of the intense drama, the film doesn’t have an atmosphere of anger and hatred but rather a surprising air of hope and love of life. Michael’s aim is not to accuse the “perpetrator” but to understand. In the end, he takes his video “Postcard” to his father. With the camera running, he confronts him with his past…
Synopsis francaise
Comme un enfant, Michael Stock a été abusée sexuellement – par son propre père. 25 ans plus tard, il est toujours à la recherche de paix intérieure. Dans les conversations avec sa famille et ses amis et ses propres réflexions, il peint sans cesse plus claire, si l’image contradictoire de ce qui s’est passé et des conséquences pour chacun des membres de la famille. Vieux films de famille semblent montrer une famille heureuse – extraits de premier indice Michael’s long-métrage à sa vie d’adulte extrêmes, éclipsé par son tout au long de traumatisme.
Pourtant, en dépit du drame intense, le film ne possède pas une atmosphère de colère et de haine, mais plutôt un air surpris de l’espérance et l’amour de la vie. Michael but n’est pas de accusent «l’auteur» mais de comprendre. À la fin, il prend sa vidéo „carte postale“ à son père. Avec la caméra en cours d’exécution, il confronte lui avec son passé …
Trailer (english subtitled)
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https://stream.sooner.de/de/id/1972094000029595060/postcard-to-daddy
Jurystatment Siegessäule Readers Award
The third documentary finalist, Michael Stock‘s Postcard to Daddy won the Siegessaeule readers award. The festival statement said, „Of all the films which the jury has seen this year Postcard to Daddy was by far the most moving. The members of the jury were so touched by Michael Stocks haunting documentary about his sexual abuse and the consequences for his life and that of his family that they still sat in silence in their seats minutes after the credits rolled. Through unsparing frankness that never became exhibitonist the filmmaker grants an intimate view of his suffering during and after the abuse. His cin- ematic self-discovery not only integrates his own story as a victim, but his entire family and even the perpetrator, and thus shows more clearly that sexual abuse is a universal issue. Stock does not mince what happened. no metaphors are used, the supposedly unspeakable is spoken out. The jury felt that POSTCARD TO DADDY is a sad yet always hopeful film finally breaking the silence and the taboos which shows a way out of victimhood into a new life.“
Postard Ro Daddy – Press Critics
“POSTCARD TO DADDY sets a tone that you otherwise do not hear in the usual agitation around this discussion: it is a calm, almost quiet tone. It is a quality that sets this film apart from many works about this topic and that also moves beyond a one-sided stigmatisation of the abuser. That is because the son is not interested in holding a filmic tribunal over his father’s head. He does not accuse, but instead pursues the evidence of the offence that has inscribed itself onto every member of the family. One can certainly argue about whether or not this path in overcoming the traumatic past is the only right way to go, but for the son it is the only one he can take.”
Jan van Helt, “CRITIC.De”
“Stock expected to hear ‘return to sender’ but things came about differently, and you see the father in the very last scene. There is no premeditation behind this ending, and yet the film could not have been structured any better.”
Kerstin Decker, “Tagesspiegel”
“Michael Stock demonstrates an incredible control of the mate- rial. He has no need of the ‘victim bonus’ one might be inclined to concede to him. POSTCARD TO DADDY is masterfully edited and structured. The film asks many questions and leaves the answering to its audience.”
Frank Noak, Siegessäule
“This is a film that transformed from a life project to a project for survival. viewers notice that the incredibly dense, packed 86 min- utes are invested with twenty years of development. The changeo- vers from interviews to scenes from Stock’s everyday life just come off so perfectly balanced. (…) This film is as oppressive as it is circumspect. Anyone concerned with sexual abuse won’t be able to ignore this film.”
Tillmann Krause, “DIie Welt”
“This is a documentary film that deals with the topic honestly, but sensitively. Stock is not in the least interested in the display of his psychic wounds. He wants closure for the sake of his own and his family’s peace of mind. (…) It is especially the mother, who failed to notice anything all those years, who Stock brings along on his healing journey. Both travel to Thailand and attempt to find closure in long and relentless conversations. (…) Stock also attempts to answer the question of what the father thinks about it twenty years later. It is almost unbelievable that he also manages to interview him. It’s been a long time since you’ve seen so much chutzpah at the movies.”
Beatrice Behn, “KIno-Zeit.de”
„Postcard To Daddy“ International Film Awards:
60th Berlinale 2010 International Film Festival, Section Panorama,
Winner of „Siegessäulen Readers Award“, nominated for The Teddy „Best Documentary“
and nominated for the „Amnesty International Film Award“
Chicago International Film Festival, „Gold Hugo – Best Documentary“
Kiev Molodist International Film Festival 2010, „Sunny Bunny Award“
Tel Aviv GBTL International Film Festival, Winner of the „Best Documentary“
Outfest Athens International GBTL Film Festival, “Best Documentary/Best Film”
23rd Image+Nation Montreal International Festival Cinema LGBT „Best Documentary“
Amsterdam International Film Festival, Winner of „Best Personal Narrative“ Van Gogh Award
Los Angeles International Film Festival Winner of „Best Directing” Jury Award
35th Frameline International GBTL Film Festival, “Special Mention” Jury Award
Los Angeles Reel Film Festival „Honored Mention“ and „Jury Award“ in the Documentary
This Human World IFF Vienna „Audiance Award“
Skeive Filmer Oslo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival “Honorable Mention“ and „Jury Award“
Los Angeles International Film Festival „Honored Mention“ Jury Award
Lisboa GLBT International Film Festival „Special Mention“ Jury Award
Warsaw Human Rights International Film Festival, Special Mention“ Jury Award
Perlen Film Festival Hannover, „Broncene Perle“
And many more…