Life as a House

Is this a movie about art imitating life as art? Or is it about architecture imitating life? This is a rather decent movie about a father-son relationship and how focus on work can overwhelm family life. Kevin Kline is excellent in any role, playing an outdated architectural model builder is no stretch for him. Hayden Christianson plays his son, a fume huffing, sexually troubled gothic teenager. As the film opens, Kevin's character is living in a broken down cottage by the sea. He commutes to work and is given his notice of termination after working over 20 years for the same firm. He proceeds to destroy many of his models on his way out of the office, then falls to the ground from the cancer that is destroying his body. He has neglected his health and his house. We also learn that he has ignored his son from his ex-wife. After learning of some of his sons' troubles and his health, the architect insists that his son live with him for the summer and help build his dream house on the same lot as his cottage. Of course after several weeks of not getting along, the two begin to work together to rebuild the house. At the end of the film, the father dies, but not before many other hands have pitched in to complete the project.
This film speaks to me because of the relationships that are formed in life with our families can be expressed in the physical surroundings where we live. Each relationship is necessary, but not at the cost of another. The house and the architect are in poor health. Both are nearing the end of their lives, both will be reborn into a new vision. The father and son reconcile to produce a bond that will be sacred after death. The house and the family produce a physical representation of the unifying of passion and goals. The three fractured characters, father, son, and building are stripped and rebuilt with the ability to relate to each other. The climax or major breaking point for these characters occurs early in the film, with the remainder being the resolution to the actions each has taken over the past 15 years.
Overall, a nice story of learning about hard work and the perils of ignoring one part of your life for another. Coincidentally, after this movie, Max happened to draw a little cottage that I turned into plans, sections, elevations, etc., that we could build a neat little camp in the woods. Laying a strong foundation for relationships ensures a connection for years, not an act near the end of your life. Enjoy everyday that we have together and create those memories now. Balance your life, reconciliation might never happen.