Monroe Community College Fatherhood Movie Discussion

Fatherhood

Director: Paul Weitz

Based on the memoir by Matthew Logelin Fatherhood, previously titled Two Kisses for Maddy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9484793-two-kisses-for-maddy

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOVIE

Please answer the questions with examples from the movie to justify your answers. Questions are rather long (each set of questions are multi-layered), therefore, choose 2 questions of your choice from the list, and do not forget to answer each one of them within each set that you have chosen.

1) Do you think that the viewers are feeling more empathetic towards Matt because he is a single father who has lost his wife, than if he were a single mother who has lost her husband? In his memoir, Matt and Liz were white. Do you believe that in this case, Matt being a man of color adds more empathy from the viewers? Justify your answer. (Think about the intersection between race and gender).

2) There are many stereotypes in this film about parenthood, certainly about being a single father. We see many female gender norms that Matt has to learn or perform with skepticism around him. Are others (his family –his mother-in-law/society- at work, for example) believing on his abilities as a father? Why not? What support does he receive? From whom does he receive help and support?

3) Maddy does not want to follow gender norms. Is the film implying that daughters raised by single fathers do not have a feminine model and therefore perform gender differently? Do they grow to be stronger females? How is her father’s reaction by the fact that Maddy is not performing gender norms? What about the nun’s reaction and other kids at school?

4) How is Matt as a father? Does he play the role of the mother and the father? What do you think about this comment made by Matt’s mother: “You are a good mom”? (Particularly because his own father had several kids from different mothers). Why Matt’s mother did not say instead: “You are a good father?”