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In the documentary series “Fathers Without Links” broadcast on the on.suzane streaming platform, 16 men talk about their journey to fatherhood. A journey strewn with pitfalls, between childhood wounds, the lack of a good father role model, and instructions.
What is a “good” father? How can we take turns being one when no one teaches us? When we lack a good model. When you are still suffering from your own father’s attitude and are afraid to reproduce known patterns. In the documentary series Fathers without referenceproduced by Judicaëlle Perrot and broadcast from September 25 on the paid streaming platform on.suzane, 16 men between the ages of 28 and 48 ask questions. In a minimalist and intimate setting, through 5 30-minute episodes, each dedicated to a theme, these fathers of all backgrounds immerse themselves in front of the camera in their childhood, question the bonds they hold with their father figure and tell the story, which is sometimes difficult : – in turn build their own fatherhood.
A break with a famous model
And the project is big when you lack tools. What father did they have? A loving person, but who never says or expresses feelings, for some. another absent, “assistant” mother, or one who works too much, for others. A strict, “old-fashioned” person, there to tighten bolts or tighten straps, or finally a violent person. After describing his childhood, one of the witnesses summarizes: “I really remember something very hard, sad, very boring from this education, and I feel like I’m coming out with a lot of trauma.”
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“We traditionally have in mind the image of the good father of the family or the tough patriarch,” director Judicael Perrault tells us. We wanted to show that there are other fathers, men with compassion and feelings for their children.” All the men interviewed claim that they wanted to celebrate a day off with famous models. “My father didn’t really take care of me, he is from the older generation, when he had me he was 50 years old,” says one of them. […] I think I suffered enough because I didn’t get the attention I wanted,” admits one of them.
A vulnerability is shown
Watching the documentary, one would have expected an easy scenario. the man who chooses not to reproduce outdated, painful fatherhood is today a happy parent who has mastered positive education. Fathers without reference never turning to caricature, quite the contrary. It shows honest stories of men who have touched and are still touching. “I went through all the stages: reproduction of patterns, authoritarianism, I scream, I scream,” recalls one of the witnesses, excitedly realizing that during these crises, he suffered more than his daughter. Their vulnerability is also what we will remember, at a time when the dictates of masculinity still weigh heavily on men.
I’ve gone through all the stages: pattern reproduction, authoritarianism, yelling
Gilles, 48, witness to the documentary series
The variety of eyewitness profiles also makes the documentary rich. White, racialized, gay, straight, trans men, 28 to 48 years old… “We wanted people from society and all social backgrounds to show that the theme is universal,” says Judicael Perrott. And we could also talk about class desertion or even racism. show, for example, that being an immigrant father is not the same as being a white father.”
Willingness to be present
The director is deeply convinced that we will never achieve gender equality without giving men a voice. In this regard, he is still surprised by the speed and ease of his witnesses’ confessions. “I had a feeling that they needed to talk and listen. They wanted to share their experiences, telling me: “I wish I knew that before I became a father.”
They wanted to share their experience, telling me “I wish I knew this before I became a father.”
Giudicael Perrault, director of Fathers Without References
Based on the testimonies, we hear the same desire. to overturn clichés, to be anchored in the family, to be a present and involved father (some of them also chose to be a stay-at-home father). According to one of the interviewed men, the stakes will be high. making better citizens of tomorrow.
“Fathers Without Markers” documentary series by Giudikael Perrault, produced by Yves Simonet and Sara Tahlaithi, on the broadcast platform. on.suzane: from September 25.
The first episode is available for free.
Source: Le Figaro
