Private Project

Father

It's the late 1990's in a quiet beach suburb of Sydney. Tess is a hip and quick-witted teenager with the world at her feet, but she is struggling to find the courage to come out to her father, Jack.
Jack lies still in his hospital bed, jaundiced due to renal failure, being cared for by nurses in his final days. Filled with anxiety, but unaware of his imminent death, Tess arrives ladened with vitamin supplements to aid his recovery. Jack has had a good life, a well-loved larrikin, and a salt of the earth kind of guy, but as Tess shuffles in her seat, he also harbours a secret he wants to share. Unaware of each other’s situation, individually, they know it’s time to say something - before it’s too late.
As the usual comfortable silence over the daily news is replaced by a deafening need to speak, Tess finally opens her mouth… but there’s an unexpected interruption. In walks Connor, a handsome man in his 30's. Jack introduces Tess to her brother. Speechless, Tess storms out, leaving the two men alone.
As Jack takes a turn for the worse, the two siblings are forced to wait for news and unexpectedly discover that they are more alike than they could have ever anticipated. Father is a film about a man who loves his children but living with regret and trying desperately to bring his family and legacy together before he dies. What transpires is a study into the complexities of family and love.

  • Jonathan Pease
    Director
  • Jessica Liley
    Writer
  • Jessica Liley
    Producer
  • Jo Austin
    Producer
  • John Brumpton
    Key Cast
    "Jack"
  • Emma Diaz
    Key Cast
    "Tess"
  • Jackson Heywood
    Key Cast
    "Connor"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 44 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 10, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    45,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jonathan Pease

Jonathan Pease is a film director that draws upon 20+ years as a Creative Director in advertising, having written and directed multiple award-winning ads, content pieces and brand films. Jonathan is focused on telling deep layered stories with a rich visual aesthetic and loves working with actors and drawing out authentic performance.

Jonathan’s debut drama short film, Two Bites, premiered at Flickerfest in 2018 and won Best Director at the Sanctuary Cove International Film Festival.

Jonathan is currently developing his debut feature, Scattered, based on the true story of pilot Dominic James's infamous ditching at Norfolk Island.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My father was 53 when I was born. That’s pretty old for modern times but back then it was more than unusual. As a result, I grew up with an acute understanding of mortality and pending loss. I was forever worried my father would die. As it turns out, he’s still alive at 99 and currently lives with my wife and I, and our four children!

This life long experience with an older father is what makes Father so personal to me.

The film taps into a universal human truth about saying what needs to be said, and acts as a timely warning for anyone who’s holding out for that perfect moment.

To me, the moral of Father is simple. Speak your truth to your loved ones, often and always.