The Prodigal Father

Description

My short film is a modernized adaptation of Malachi 4:6 and Luke 15:11-32. The Prodigal Father delves deep into the journey of reconciliation and forgiveness, centring around a Black British father who returns to the East London estate he walked away from a decade earlier. The father, once absent from the lives of his two sons, has come back to apologise face the consequences of his departure. His arrival, however, is anything but easy—there is shock, heartache, confusion and resentment, as the sons were left in the dark about their father’s whereabouts or why he abandoned them when they were younger. The father’s return forces them to confront the pain. Being all too much for the oldest son, he demands that the father leave, much to the disappointment of the younger.The older son\'s emotions boil over, and all of his hurt and pain come rushing out. He is unable to fathom how his father could leave, how he could dare to come back and try to rekindle a relationship, or why his younger brother is so eager to welcome him back with open arms. Feeling slighted, the older confronts the younger and expresses how, with his father out of the picture, he stepped up to the plate and took on the role of father, giving his younger brother the support and care that he needed in their father’s absence. He questions the father’s motives and how his return will affect their lives. He is unconvinced that his father wants to turn over a new leaf and is unwilling to find out whether his father is genuine or not. The younger son attempts to console his brother, reassuring him that his love and support were invaluable to him and that his presence in his life helped him to become who he is. He reassures him that his place in his life could never change. But the older son is too hurt and angry to cope so he storms out of the home. The father is invited by his youngest son to one of his football matches. He stands next to his eldest son in the crowd, we see that things are still tense and awkward between them at first. The father offers small talk from time to time, but to little avail. The youngest son’s winning goal in the last seconds of the match allows them to share a moment of pride, passion and jubilation in the youngest son’s success and pulls them together. The eldest son softens slightly and asks the father if he would like to join them for a small celebratory meal, to which the father agrees. The story ends with the door left slightly ajar for the family to rebuild trust again, leaving a glimpse of hope for the process of healing and reconciliation to truly begin.

Biblical Connection

Malachi 4:6 is ambiguous and there is not much explanation on how reconciliation is achieved or why it is needed, which is why I have incorporated elements of Luke 15:11-32—The Parable of The Prodigal Son into the narrative as both scriptures perfectly tie into the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. At its core, The Prodigal Father captures a profound social issue—the complexities of absent fathers and fractured families, making it resonate with a contemporary audience. For this reason, I chose to flip the narrative slightly, making the father the prodigal instead of the son. I chose to exhibit the emotional weight of this father-son reunion by bringing it to life in the form of a drama, as it is the ideal genre for this story, and it allows for the raw and honest portrayal of deep emotions—grief, anger, regret, and the possibility of redemption. Through this medium, the audience will experience the heaviness of reconciliation, while providing those who\'ve lived through similar struggles a powerful voice.