What’s “About My Father” About?

Sebastian (Sebastian Maniscalco) is encouraged by his fiancée (Leslie Bibb) to bring his immigrant, hairdresser father, Salvo (Robert De Niro), to a weekend get-together with her super-rich and exceedingly eccentric family (Kim Cattrall, Anders Holm, Brett Dier, & David Rasche). The weekend develops into what can only be described as a culture clash, leaving Sebastian and Salvo to discover that the great thing about family is everything about family!

 

Having an In-Law Clash!!!

In “About My Father”, Salvo & Sebastian are like the family from “the Downtime” area where very obviously Sebastian’s girlfriend – and her family were from the highest “UPtown” area. I have watched so many films where a lower-class working individual marries into a higher-class family and vice versa; @ times it works out & at others – it simply doesn’t. Does it work this way in real life? I’ve NEVER personally encountered this type of situation …but it’s a pretty common sense answer. NOT all in-laws will see eye-to-eye. In Salvo’s situation, his father had the old way and style of thinking – and that is what scared him to death after meeting Ellie’s parents!

 

That OMG Line: About My Father

Sebastian – and no man, or woman wants to start the first sentence off with his future in-laws with let me tell you this first …about my father… That would frighten any person meeting their child’s romantic partner – like you are whispering something negative about your father or mother to them BEFORE they come up and introduce themselves to you. The persona of “being nice and fake” or putting on fronts in certain situations to fit in is just something I don’t believe in. If a person cannot be themselves; then they should not be – PERIOD. Salvo was himself; it was Sebastian who wasn’t if you take a close look at the film. Salvo wanted the very best for his son.

 

The Parent vs. THEE Parents

There was a twist with Salvo, and with Ellie’s parents, Bill & Tigger. Salvo was the very traditional parent raising Sebastian to work for everything to earn money and not have everything given to him on a silver spoon or platter and learn the meaning of “hard work” and what responsibility is; not throwing money away on material things and such, etc. That is what Ellie and her family were all about so you could deduce that OPPOSITES do attract and these 2 are a match made in heaven Ellie taught Sebastian everything he felt he missed out on as a child. The shocker is Ellie wished her parents raised her like Salvo raised Sebastian!

 

Love Nor Affection cannot be Fake or Purchased!

Ellie was a painter & she was trying to get into the art world and get her feet wet and make a name for herself- she had an art exhibit when the film first came on – she ran up to Sebastian with such excitement because someone had purchased ALL of her pieces!!! Who would have done that for her if she was not an established artist? Who’d take that kind of a chance on her? When you have money like her family and now even Sebastian – the list is endless!

 

Trav’s Remarks on About My Father

“About My Father” teaches you that raising kids the harsh, cruel way as they see it by doing laundry, chores, homework, etc. makes you appreciate what you have learned so much & become self-reliant, and not depend on others for anything! That is what Ellie admires the ABSOLUTE MOST about her Sebastian. Sure, she taught him games, took him to do things Salvo did not, and he spent money on things Salvo would NEVER have done, but did she corrupt his mind – or way of thinking? NO! She made him realize how good he had it …and he had it with it, Dad! About My Father can teach any man who is a dad that there are a variety of parenting styles and NONE of them are perfect nor ideal! REMEMBER THAT, Dads!