When Did You Last See Your Father?

Dir: Anand Tucker

2008

****

I found 2008's When Did You Last See Your Father? to be a particularly moving experience. It's well performed (by Jim Broadbent in particular), beautifully directed and the script is quite wonderful. Its only real major downfall is the way that it has been structured and the curious way it has been edited. It's full of unnecessary long scenes and it's a little bit obvious and over the top when it's being emotionally manipulative. I do wonder what purpose the scene whereby Colin Firth abuses himself in the bath served but if that's the sort of thing that floats your boat then this is the film for you. However, that said, the scene at the end where father and son embrace is an amazing piece of cinema and worth seeing the film for alone. It just needs a few tweaks here and there for it to be absolutely perfect, I do believe it's a little underrated.