The film In Memory of My Father first came to my attention about four years ago when I saw a listing for it on IMDB. I was looking up movies with indie actor Matt Keeslar, hoping to get another fix. I was additionally intrigued after seeing that the movie also starred two more of my favorites, Jeremy Sisto (I love you Jeremy. Call me!) and Judy Greer. So I waited to see it. And waited. I’d occasionally check the site again and think, “Oh right. That movie. Is it ever coming out?” And it never did.
It has played film festivals and a very limited run in California, but despite what seems like constant efforts to find distribution by director Christopher Jaymes, the film has yet to get a mainstream release. Which is a shame, because it’s a quirky and interesting film. A Hollywood producer requests that his son (Jaymes) documents the day of his death, which Chris does, including trying to catch the moment dad actually dies—in a shockingly irreverent and hysterical moment. His brothers Jeremy and Matt (Sisto and Keeslar) spend the evening’s wake in the company of others. Jeremy does ecstasy with his step-sister/cousin’s boyfriend and obsesses about the other woman his wife is having an affair with. Matt gets high with dad’s young mistress (Judy Greer), who admits her attraction to him. Meanwhile, Chris juggles his 17-year-old girlfriend with the ex he’s still in love with.
The film is hard to pin down to one genre. Is it a comedy or a drama? Much like real life, comedy and tragedy intertwine throughout and Jaymes follows each of the brothers up and down the highs and lows of emotion. Considering that the film’s tagline is “…but what about me?” it should be no surprise (although some people may be put off by the fact) that our three leads are so self-obsessed and steeped in their own problems that they don’t seem to be too broken up about their dad’s death for most of the movie. Although, eventually we get the sense that Dad wasn’t exactly Mr. Brady.
Even as I type this, Jaymes is still seeking distribution for his film, which recently played San Francisco in a limited run. If you get the chance to see it, you really ought to. It was definitely worth the wait.
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