Son of the Bride
By Juan Rodriguez Flores

Rarely has a Latin American film been as successful in portraying a realistic picture of family relationships as El hijo de la novia (Son of the Bride), written and directed by Argentine filmmaker Juan José Campanella.

Nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category, Campanella’s film relates the story of the owner of a restaurant whose priority in life is money over emotions.

The main character in the film is a son whose mother suffers from Alzheimer’s. A heart attack forces him to put his relationship with his family in a new perspective and to realize that his emotions and love for his parents are more important than succeeding in the business world.

“My mother will never know that part of her life inspired this film. However, I find comfort in the knowledge that, after watching Son of the Bride, anyone can have a better understanding of Alzheimer’s and of those who suffer from it.”

“My film is almost entirely based on experiences from my personal life,” said Campanella in a recent interview. “My mother has suffered from progressive memory loss, to the point where she no longer recognizes me. It has been difficult to watch her sinking into a world of unconsciousness and wonder.” The filmmaker is moved by the way that his father’s love for his mother has remained intact over the years: “My father has never stopped loving her. He is at her side almost every day and takes care of her with the same love that he has felt since the day they met.”

Campanella describes the central theme of the film as a fact: “When my father told me that he intended to marry my mother [this time, in a religious ceremony] in the hospital in which she was confined, I thought he was joking. I was wrong; my father had made a promise that he wanted to keep. When I realized that, I decided to help him,” he stated.

“I feel it was the best thing I could have ever done. Although my mother never knew what had actually happened, it was an unforgettable experience to watch her walk down the aisle, in a bridal gown, holding my father’s arm. At that time I discovered how great and inspiring the love between a man and a woman can be,” he said.

The first ideas for his film started developing from this ceremony: “I tried to remain true to my feelings throughout the writing process,” he added. “My mother will never know that part of her life inspired this film. However, I find comfort in the knowledge that, after watching Son of the Bride, anyone can have a better understanding of Alzheimer’s and of those who suffer from it.“

Campanella returned to his country without the coveted Oscar, which was awarded to No Man’s Land, the entry from Bosnia. However, he feels that the film has changed him: “Directing this film has changed my life completely. I think that now I am more fair and balanced in my judgments. I have discovered that I love my parents very deeply and I have plans to be at both their sides for as long as they need me,” he declares.

For more information about Alzheimer’s, please visit: Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online

 

 

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