Great Scene: “Big Fish” (2003)

The story within the story culminates in the final scene between father and son.

Plot summary: A frustrated son tries to determine the fact from fiction in his dying father’s life.

Screenplay by John August, novel by Daniel Wallace.

Scene setup: Will Bloom’s troubled relationship with his father Edward comes to an emotional climax in this scene. Waiting by his father’s hospital bed as Edward lay dying, Will offers his father a symbolic olive branch … by telling him a story.

Here is the movie version of the scene:

There is a telling reversal in this scene. Up to this point, Edward has been the storyteller. In fact, his fabulous tales and proclivity of taking center stage at all social gatherings has been a bone of contention with Will for years, one of the reasons for their disconnect. But here, Will becomes the storyteller. It’s a lovely and meaningful symbolic shift, the subtext saying, “Dad, I accept and love you.”

Great scene. Great movie.

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