seanpjs93 I think mainly you have to understand that in the 1930s The Catholic Church was above all, they invoked huge fear into people and people knew no better, and they were in a life where they had to live in a way that would not go against the church's teaching. This film really give the best historical account of Irish life of the 1930s, it shows the old parish dances and the way people worked, and how their lives were so set out in a way that wouldn't really give them much freedom. This is shown especially in the scenes where the locals go to Croagh Patrick, the priest tells them that they all are expected to be there, that coming from a priest back then was like an order from the president. Also in the scene where Fiona sneaks over to see Kierán after he was told in confession to stop seeing her and not kiss or think "unclean thoughts" of her anymore, that particular scene shows the fear and gullibility of the Irish Catholics of the time. Afterwards in the barn where Kierán tells Fiona that he asked god to help him to stop thinking about her and it hasn't stopped, this kind of showed a form of thinking that if you pray for help and the help isn't given, what you feel is how you're meant to feel. All in all it's a brilliant film and account of Irish life in the 1930s

Lee Eisenberg I didn't think that "This Is My Father" was a masterpiece, but still worth seeing. James Caan plays Kieran, a history teacher who decides to go to his mother's native Ireland to find out why she left, and specifically, who his father was.A particularly effective scene is when Kieran's nephew Jack meets some Irish girls. They get to talking about Northern Ireland and the girls have to explain to the boy the reason for what's going on there. In other words, Jack is learning as much about modern Ireland as Kieran is about what the island was like in the '30s*. I found that to be the best scene in the movie.Anyway, worth seeing.*Due to Éire's economic collapse amid the worldwide financial crisis, it's back to where it was in the '30s economically.

amom568 Excellent movie. Shows unequivocally, the reality of a small rural village in Ireland. There were misconceptions about the origin of the people and the Catholic Church was the one who ran the steps. I could not but recall the social customs of my country a few years ago. Permanently influenced by the priests of the Catholic Church, who in my opinion, do not interpret the message of Jesus. In those days, I mean the 50's, with their preaching, strongly separated classes, causing people to "fear God, " not to allow marriages between poor and other less poor. Fortunately, some disobeyed and so many of us can be in this world. Remarkable performance by Aidan Quinn.

pjnbarb While the movie was OK, I was terribly upset by the accurate portrayal of how the church affects people, not only in Ireland where the film takes place, but all over the world. People seem to give credit to God when good things happen, but after a tragedy they say "The Lord works in mysterious ways." It sickens me to see the hold that the church (ALL churches) has over the peoples of the world .. and films like this bring it to the fore. I read that someone in the Quinn family tells this as a true story. It made me wonder who this "Quinn" was, and how she was related to Aiden and his brothers. I do recommend the movie .. it was very moving and sad.