Mirrors and reflections are the dominating forces here that project an extremely beautiful and melancholy father and son relationship. As the film progresses and the time-passages segue into both past and present tense, throughout, we see what it is to feel regret, discontent and anger. Seen through the eyes of the son, Blake, and his struggle to overcome his overbearing fathers unconsciously selfish and dominating carefree persona. This is a young child, a growing teen and now middle-aged man who, after all the years gone by, is still failing in his own personal duties to fully embrace the shortcomings and inadvertent arrogance of his father.
Based on Blake Morrison's autobiographical account on his own relationship with his father, the title in itself is a question that comprises a poignant air of respect. Throughout, too, an engaging use of mirrors is at the forefront of the narrative, a charming, imaginative and very interesting metaphor of reflective reconciliation. It is with this tone that director Anand Tucker finds a balance of dry wit and sympathy concerning Jim Broadbent's outgoing and cancer-bearing Arthur, Matthew Beard as the angst ridden, frustrated teenage son and Colin Firth's older Blake and his reflective unhappiness.
And When Did You Last See Your Father? has the hallmarks of a wonderful concoction of emotion: humour, empathy, sorrow and tenderness and with the purely stunning and beautiful cinematography, as done by Howard Atherton (Lassie, 2005), a script of deep regret, in all, shows more than a beautiful and extremely touching vision of life.
Simply stunning. Simply beautiful. Simply breathtaking.
Based on Blake Morrison's autobiographical account on his own relationship with his father, the title in itself is a question that comprises a poignant air of respect. Throughout, too, an engaging use of mirrors is at the forefront of the narrative, a charming, imaginative and very interesting metaphor of reflective reconciliation. It is with this tone that director Anand Tucker finds a balance of dry wit and sympathy concerning Jim Broadbent's outgoing and cancer-bearing Arthur, Matthew Beard as the angst ridden, frustrated teenage son and Colin Firth's older Blake and his reflective unhappiness.
And When Did You Last See Your Father? has the hallmarks of a wonderful concoction of emotion: humour, empathy, sorrow and tenderness and with the purely stunning and beautiful cinematography, as done by Howard Atherton (Lassie, 2005), a script of deep regret, in all, shows more than a beautiful and extremely touching vision of life.
Simply stunning. Simply beautiful. Simply breathtaking.