One Fine Day (1996)
Contained within this standard romantic comedy are two notable depictions of motherhood – both of which make for refreshing viewing. It is the story of an architect – Melanie Parker – and a newspaper columnist – Jack Taylor – and how they come together over the course of a day, which could be described as “fine”. Both are divorced, both have young children, and both have a day planned that is of a ‘make or break’ nature for their respective careers.
Melanie’s son and Jack’s daughter attend the same kindergarten, but Melanie and Jack have never met. Jack’s daughter lives with his ex-wife, and his unconventional schedule means that he rarely takes custody of his off-spring. That changes one morning, when his ex-wife delivers their daughter to him because she is leaving for her honeymoon – and this constitutes the first depiction of motherhood. Jack’s ex-wife, Kristen, explains in great detail the way in which Jack is deficient in his execution of the role of father to their child. He doesn’t make space for her in his life.
So, when Kristen descends upon Jack like a whirlwind, hoping that Jack will look after his own child for a few days, she eventually makes the very clear point that in having his daughter for this time, he is not doing his ex-wife a favour, he is co-parenting – which is something he is required to do, since conceiving the child in the first place. Rather than accepting Jack’s failings as a father and assuming all of the responsibility for their child, Kristen forces Jack to face up to his position as Dad.
It’s not just about Kristen, though. Her actions here facilitate the repair of her daughter’s relationship with her father, which is something that will resonate with her for the rest of her life. But, it is quite right that is should also be about Kristen – because she should have the opportunity to take her honeymoon, safe in the knowledge that her daughter is safe with her Dad.
Inevitably, Jack makes some mistakes over the course of the day, and it is these mistakes that lead him to cross paths with Melanie. The two find themselves needing to help each other out as they attempt to juggle childcare and career-defining meetings, while also irritating each other beyond all reason. Melanie, however, is a fantastic depiction of motherhood, precisely because she doesn’t get everything right herself. She regularly gets things spectacularly wrong (including losing track of Jack’s little girl), and has to figure out how to fix her mistakes. Throughout the entire film, she is facing challenges, screwing up, dusting herself off and trying again – all because she is simply trying to make the day work, for the sake of herself and her child.
