Steve Jobs (2015) – Messages about Fatherhood
Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs, written by Aaron Sorkin, is not your typical biographical film. It doesn’t concern itself with a chronological retelling of the Apple co-founder’s life, nor does it aim to glorify or vilify him. Instead, the film zeroes in on a deeply personal narrative thread: fatherhood. Over the course of three meticulously crafted acts, the film examines Steve Jobs’ relationships with his daughter, Lisa, and his surrogate father figure, John Sculley, to explore themes of identity, legacy, and the messy complexities of human connection.
What emerges is a story as much about personal reconciliation as it is about technological innovation—a film that reveals the man behind the myth through the lens of his relationships with those closest to him. By focusing on Jobs’ struggles with fatherhood, both as a son and as a father himself, Steve Jobs delivers a poignant and thought-provoking examination of the emotional ties that shape us.
A Father Who Won’t Acknowledge His Daughter
At the heart of Steve Jobs is Steve’s fraught relationship with his daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs. When the film begins, Steve (Michael Fassbender) is at the height of his career, preparing to unveil the Macintosh in 1984. Yet his personal life is in turmoil. He refuses to acknowledge Lisa as his daughter, denying her paternity even in the face of a court-ordered DNA test. The tension is palpable as Lisa’s mother, Chrisann Brennan (Katherine Waterston), confronts Steve about his financial and emotional neglect.
This denial of fatherhood serves as a metaphor for Steve’s inability to connect with his humanity. He is consumed by his obsession with perfection and control, qualities that make him a visionary in his professional life but deeply flawed in his personal relationships. Lisa, an intelligent and observant child, senses this detachment, which only heightens the emotional stakes as the story progresses.
Throughout the film, Steve’s relationship with Lisa evolves. By the second act, set in 1988 during the launch of NeXT, Steve begins to show glimpses of vulnerability. He buys Lisa an expensive Walkman, an act that feels more like a gesture of guilt than genuine affection. However, by the final act, set in 1998 during the unveiling of the iMac, Steve’s defenses begin to crumble. He finally admits to Lisa that he’s proud of her, marking a significant moment of growth for a man who has spent most of his life running from emotional intimacy.
John Sculley: A Father Figure with Complications
Parallel to Steve’s struggle with Lisa is his complicated relationship with John Sculley (Jeff Daniels), Apple’s CEO and the man who ultimately ousted Steve from the company he founded. The film portrays Sculley as a surrogate father figure, a role he acknowledges explicitly in a pivotal confrontation with Steve. During their intense exchange in the second act, Sculley brings up Steve’s adoption, drawing a line between Steve’s feelings of abandonment and his inability to form meaningful connections.
“You’ve had a lot of fathers in your life,” Sculley says, referencing Steve’s adoptive father and his biological father, whom Steve never met. Sculley positions himself as one of those father figures, albeit one whose relationship with Steve is fraught with resentment and betrayal. Their dynamic is one of the film’s most compelling aspects, as it intertwines professional rivalry with deeply personal wounds. Sculley’s betrayal mirrors the abandonment Steve feels from his biological father, creating a cycle of unresolved pain that reverberates through the film.
The most poignant moment between Steve and Sculley comes when they reminisce about a restaurant meeting that took place years earlier. Unbeknownst to Steve at the time, the restaurant was owned by his biological father. The irony of the situation underscores the film’s central theme: the search for connection and the barriers we construct to protect ourselves from vulnerability.
Fatherhood, Identity, and the Complexity of Reconciliation
One of the most striking aspects of Steve Jobs is its refusal to offer easy resolutions. Steve’s journey toward reconciling with Lisa and understanding his relationship with Sculley is messy and incomplete, much like real-life relationships. The film doesn’t paint Steve as a villain or a hero but as a deeply flawed individual grappling with his own humanity.
The fatherhood theme is intricately tied to Steve’s sense of identity. His adoption looms large over his life, shaping his insecurities and his drive to leave a mark on the world. This psychological undercurrent informs not only his relationship with Lisa but also his obsession with creating “perfect” products. In his mind, perfection is a way to prove his worth and transcend the feelings of rejection that have haunted him since childhood.
Similarly, Steve’s efforts to be a better father to Lisa reflect his desire for redemption. By acknowledging Lisa and attempting to support her, Steve confronts his own fears of inadequacy. Yet his journey is far from linear. The film doesn’t shy away from showing his failures, such as his initial denial of paternity or his tendency to use material gifts as a substitute for emotional connection. These flaws make his eventual moments of vulnerability all the more powerful, as they show a man who is trying, however imperfectly, to break free from the cycles of pain that have defined his life.
A Subtle and Complex Message
At its core, Steve Jobs is a film about the relationships that define us, for better or worse. By focusing on Steve’s struggles with fatherhood, both as a son and as a father, the film offers a nuanced exploration of human connection. It’s a story about seeking validation, grappling with abandonment, and finding the courage to open up to others.
The brilliance of Aaron Sorkin’s script lies in its ability to weave these themes into the fabric of the film without becoming overly sentimental or heavy-handed. The dialogue crackles with wit and intensity, revealing layers of complexity in every interaction. Danny Boyle’s direction, meanwhile, brings a sense of immediacy and energy to the proceedings, using the film’s three-act structure to mirror the stages of Steve’s personal and professional evolution.
Why It Resonates
Steve Jobs may not have been a box office juggernaut, but its emotional resonance and thematic depth have made it a film worth revisiting. It’s a portrait of a man who, despite his brilliance, struggled with the same fears and insecurities that define us all. For Maze of Media, it’s a reminder that behind every icon is a human being—flawed, complicated, and searching for connection.
Whether you’re drawn to its sharp writing, compelling performances, or poignant exploration of fatherhood, Steve Jobs offers a rich and rewarding cinematic experience. It’s a film that doesn’t just tell a story; it invites you to reflect on your own relationships and the ways they shape your identity. And in doing so, it leaves a lasting impression that lingers long after the credits roll.
