Father Figures

Canadian filmmaker April Butler's father is smitten. But 73-year-old heart patient Dale is 50 years older than his girlfriend Girlie, who lives in the Philippines. Thrown into turmoil by this situation, the filmmaker – who is twice the age of her potential future stepmother – follows the happy couple. The film intercuts the director's personal observations, which she gives both on-camera and in a voice-over, with one-on-one interviews with Dale, Girlie and family members. April is clearly torn. She is horrified by the behavior of her father, who appears to be seducing Girlie with invented stories about his wealth, and who happily lets his girlfriend take care of him in their apartment in the Philippines. But things feel quite different when April visits her father in Canada. Dale lives there for six months a year in order to keep receiving his meager pension, which he usually transfers right into Girlie's account. Who is really benefiting the most from this relationship? Should April take action now that there are plans for a wedding in Hong Kong? Or are Dale and Girlie truly happy together? These explicit questions are blown aside when a shocking discovery tests April's relationship with her father to the limit. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)