Filial Voice and Plight of Fatherless Sons in Aesthetics of Pain in Films, Mully (2021) and Family Portrait (2022)

Abstract

The study examined how the filial voice and the plight of fatherless male children are portrayed in Scott Haze’s documentary films Mully (2021) and Family Portrait (2022). In many African traditions, fathers are expected to provide, protect, and give identity to their children, while fatherlessness may expose children to stigma and social vulnerability. Mully (2021), directed by Scott Haze, presents the true story of Charles Mully, who was abandoned by his father, while Family Portrait (2022), directed by Twiggy Matiwana, portrays Ayize, who is prevented from fulfilling his role as a father because of poverty. Despite the prevalence of fatherlessness, limited research has examined its influence on the lives of male children as represented in African films. The study population comprised 48 characters from the two documentaries, from which 19 major characters were purposively sampled based on their roles and sentiments relevant to the study. Qualitative data were collected using a documentary analysis guide and analysed thematically. The findings revealed that fatherhood entails physical presence, emotional attachment, and general care for the boy child rather than wealth. The study contributes to literary scholarship by highlighting the experiences of fatherless boys and encouraging scholars and writers to produce works that represent their experiences in contemporary African societies.