An Ideal Father

In a quiet Normandy valley, Michel runs the town's sole cafe with a friendly grin and a knack for smoothing every rough morning. When his teenage daughter is killed, the town's veneer of support begins to crack as whispers and suspicions swirl. The man once seen as a model father finds his faith in his role tested, and the community's sympathy tilts toward scrutiny. As rumors spread, Michel navigates a widening trap set by rumor, media noise, and wary neighbors. What starts as a tragedy becomes a harsh examination of what a community believes about family, blame, and what counts as evidence. Michel will have to decide how to weather the storm without losing himself.

Directed by Hélène Fillières from a script by Claude Scasso, An Ideal Father is a 2024 French drama presented as a television movie. The cast features Laurent Gerra as Michel and Eddy Mitchell as Jeff, with Laure-Lucille Simon and others.

As of its release, the film has not been listed for major awards. The performance by Laurent Gerra has drawn praise from critics for its restraint and emotional precision, but there are no widely reported nominations or wins in the top ceremony databases at this time for this TV release.

Culturally the film taps into a familiar debate about how small communities react to tragedy and rumor. It probes the line between sympathy and suspicion, showing how a parent can become a focal point for collective guilt even before facts settle. It invites reflection.

The film has a mixed reception with a 6.3/10 rating from 121 votes. It centers on grief and community judgment, asking how a father copes with loss while bearing the weight of suspicion in a close knit town. The film is carried by performances that carry the town's mood.