How many firsts have fathers quietly missed? The first smile. The first word. The first unsteady steps across the floor. For many families, this absence was long considered simply the way things were, part and parcel of everyday life. Only recently have we begun to question these expectations—and to imagine what might change when fathers are given the time and permission to stay close.

This film was created by listening to a small group of fathers who had taken parental leave and were actively caring for their children at home. I wanted to understand their experiences of fatherhood, work and care, and to observe the texture of daily life. What emerged was not simply commentary on policy or systems. It became a portrait of tenderness, identity and quiet transformation.

As a parent myself with two young children, I recognised so much of what they described: the sleeplessness, the chaos, the tug-of-war between work and presence. But what struck me beyond the words was how these fathers were with their children – the way they listened, laughed, guided and knelt down to the level of their little ones. They weren’t just fathers. They were companions. Playmates. Safe places.

These men are participating in a social shift. They are reshaping expectations around masculinity and care, not loudly or through slogans, but through the simple act of showing up. They are creating homes where responsibility and opportunity are shared. In supporting their partners’ careers, they are quietly challenging deeply ingrained gender norms. In taking leave, they are taking love seriously.

The film is not about perfection. It is about effort, intention, and the courage to choose connection even when systems, workplaces or cultural assumptions don’t always make that choice easy. Some of the men still felt stigma when taking leave. Others worried about career progression or how their choices would be perceived. Yet they stepped into care regardless. That quiet resistance—or perhaps that quiet love—is something I deeply admire.

What I discovered while making this work was a form of intimacy rooted in the everyday. Shoes being tied. Stories being read. Games imagined. These moments may look small, but they are foundational. They shape how children see the world, and how they see themselves within it.

Ultimately, this film is a love letter to fathers who are making space for care, and to families rewriting the story together. It is also a reminder that systems must evolve alongside us, creating real and equal opportunities for all parents to participate in the emotional and practical work of raising children.

These dads are a breath of fresh air. They offer a glimpse of what a more balanced world could look like. And I am grateful to have witnessed—and shared—a small piece of their journey.