A reluctant bodybuilder and security guard returns home to care for his ailing father as past trauma and unspoken emotions surface.
Harvey (Mandeep Sodhi) is a security guard struggling to hold himself together after moving back home to look after his elderly father (Amrit Parbhakar). Compelled by his father’s mantra — “My son is very strong” — from a young age, Harvey has developed an impressive, hardened exterior.
Still, cracks begin to show as the pressure of caregiving sends him crumbling into frequent crying fits and panic attacks. Harvey struggles with a sense of obligation and responsibly and pushes himself to look after his dad. Then he realizes that he broken on the inside, Harvey must learn that sometimes strength means asking for help.
Ian Bawa’s feature debut is a continuation of the series of short films that examined his relationship with his father, and Parbhakar brings depth as the strong-willed and stubborn patriarch who spends his days replaying pro wrestling videos and watching his son exercise.
Strong Son is an affecting story about filial duty, masculinity and the emotional gaps that can exist between first-generation immigrant parents and their children.
Award winning filmmaker Ian Bawa steps into the ring with his first feature film. Based on the acclaimed 2020 short film STRONG SON, this extension of the short feels like something completely new but still holding true to a lot of what makes the vulnerable short so effective.
Mandeep Sodhi (STRONG SON, 2020; THE BEST 2024) continues his work with Ian Bawa and turns in an outstanding performance showcasing an extremely difficult to explain internal struggle.
Wrestling fans and fans of SINGHS IN THE RING (CIFF 2025) will be excited to see Raj Dhesi in his first acting role as workout trainer Nav. STRONG SON is a testament to how difficult emotional labour can be no matter how strong of an exterior you build.
Strong Son screened at the CIFF and VIFF after premiering at TIFF.
Leave a Reply