From the Film Maker...

I liked the dark, rich colours in the painting. It made me want to write a dark, moody, disturbing script. But as the painting may also be poking fun at men, I wanted the script to be funny and light at the same time.

I seated the four men in my film in the order they appeared in the painting. I liked the way they seemed to be looking out at something - I gravitated towards the idea of a woman. My script centres on a woman making dinner for the men in her life.

When I looked at the painting, the way the men were dressed and the general positions in which they were sitting seemed comical to me. They’re sitting around a table, completely absorbed by what they are doing.

I find their attitude slightly odd, given their proximity to one another. This made me want to make an absurd film, where the men were all part of one family but absorbed in their relationship with the woman - they don’t pay attention to anyone else. The exception is the youngest child, who I wanted to give a more angelic, innocent quality to.

I concentrated on the most obvious theme, the four ages of man. I took it a step further and made it the four ages of an obnoxious male. I played on the notion of a dirty old man, an abusive husband and a teen who resents his mother for lacking the strength to confront the father. Plus the youngest son who in the end shows no compassion.
Katherine Moon