Anne Taylor Robertson Blog 3: Big Fish

Tim Burton’s 2002 film Big Fish is truly a classic. This film is about the life of a man and his son. Elderly and sick, Edward Bloom recounts his life story to his once estranged son Will. Will has always had a difficult relationship with his father, as Edward told him fantastical, myth-like stories of his life growing up. When William got older, he got more and more frustrated with his father because the stories weren’t realistic. He felt that his father was just vying for attention. A few years after his wedding, William and his pregnant wife come back from Paris to be with Edward on his death bed. This situation brings William and Edward close together in Edward’s last moment of life. I thought this was a great film, describing what can often be a distant parent relationship. William has a chance to step back from the hustle and bustle of every day life to see the value behind his father’s stories. I loved the fantasy-like imagery and the style of story-telling the film employed. I felt like it made it a very personal viewing experience, that the film followed so closely the life of young Edward Bloom. William has to learn, what is most important at the end? It’s not the money you earn or the things that you have but the relationships you build and the stories you leave behind to share them.