I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

disgusting, overrated, pointless

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

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

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.

James Caan is always good to watch. Plus there were many faces you don't see in Hollywood, which is a big plus for me.I particularly find foreign films refreshing, and while this may have had Canadian production, the Irish backdrop provides a glimpse into a less complicated time with far more interesting people.There is a revealing and delightful conversation between the young nephew and two local Irish girls.The modern story did not detract from the movie, in fact I found it interesting also.Aidan Quinn has put on some weight and does a fabulous job here...I was not a big fan before. Apparently his family produced this film.It is definitely worth a watch for the locale and a believable love story.The only down side was the fate of one of the characters.

Throw a rock in any direction, and you'll find someone just like the character played by James Caan. This movie is such a beautiful slice of life. Many times I look at older people and wonder what they've gone through. This movie had such a realistic, believable and moving story. I really liked the ending; the idea of the school teacher going back to his class room. This time, though, with a greater knowledge of his "roots". While his life obviously did not change in a dramatic fashion, I got the impression that his life (and his teaching) would get better as a result of his search.