DVD REVIEW: I Am Your Father

Shane | 3 June 2016 | Reply

DVD REVIEW: I Am Your Father
Shock Entertainment
6 April, 2016
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
7/10

Spanish co-directors Toni Bestard and super-fan Marcos Cabota constructed this tribute to David Prowse – the actor who so vividly brought Star Wars’ physically imposing super-villain Darth Vader to life – in an attempt to give him credit he was denied when the Sith Lord removed his helmet at the end of the third Star Wars movie.

Presenter Cabota follows their journey as they survey Prowse’s career as a body builder and actor, contact him and suggest he reprise his most famous role and refilm that climactic scene from Star Wars, this time featuring his own face, as they believe the original should have.

Cabota and Bestard’s mission is certainly worthy, and their journey interesting as they attempt to discover the reasons Prowse was not only denied that scene, but still to this day is not invited to attend any official Star Wars events – but it feels like the film is a one-hour program fleshed out to become movie length.

Star Wars producers Gary Kurtz (who was involved in the first two films) and Robert Watts (all three of the original trilogy) provide some of the most interesting interview footage in the absence of George Lucas, who declined to be involved. Lucasfilm also vetoed the inclusion of the reshot footage, which was a massive blow for the producers and Prowse, and does leave the film with an anti-climactic feeling to it.

Despite these niggling faults, I Am Your Father is a worthy celebration of Prowse’s career, and a must for all Star Wars obsessives.