And When Did You Last See Your Father?

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A cumbersome title, And When Did You Last See Your Father's plot can at times have a lot in common with its moniker. It does, however, slowly reveal itself to be something different, throwing the odd curveball when least expected. Adapted from Blake Morrison's novel, the plot sees Firth return home for the first time in years to see his ailing father Arthur (Broadbent). A once-powerful man in his life, his memories of his father become sullied when he stumbles upon a family secret. As Blake (Firth) struggles with what he should be feeling for his dying father, the film flashes back to his youth and investigates the hot-and-cold relationship between father and son. And When Did You Last See Your Father? sometimes aims straight for the overused sentiments, but on the whole, it steers a steady ship through uncharted waters, only glancing off the odd cliche. Where most directors would lay on the emotion with a trowel, Anand Tucker's (Shopgirl) latest is toned-down; where most films that deal with the subject (think the Jack Lemmon/Ted Danson heartrending Dad) turn everything up to eleven, Tucker delivers with a minimum of fuss. It's a brave move that could have cost Tucker dearly, but on the whole the film is stronger for it. Firth is reserved and refuses to ham it up, while Broadbent turns in a beautiful performance as the dying Arthur.