PopSyndicate.com

Many great father/son relationships have been written about in literature. The epic poems of Homer, The Iliad and The Odyssey come to mind, as does Hamlet. When Did You Last See Your Father? is based on Blake Morrison’s best selling, bittersweet confessional memoir of the same name. The film is an uncompromising and candid portrait of an ordinary family and specifically speaks to the bonds between father and son. Bring tissues.

The film opens with a voice-over by the adult Blake (admirably played by Colin Firth) reminiscing about growing up in a dysfunctional family, headed by his pompous, larger-then-life dad Arthur (the always wonderful Jim Broadbent). But as a young boy, his father’s transgressions (of which there were many) were gazed through the lens of childhood and thus initially forgiven. Not unlike most kids, the youngster’s hero worship inevitably sours when he becomes a typical, cynical teenager. Only, Blake has good reason to resent his dad; a man who takes every opportunity to embarrass and upstage his son. It is only as his elderly father lies dying that he is able to take that first step - the journey back to respect and ultimately, love. The expedition is fraught with conflicting emotions and laden with resentment and guilt. 

Directed by Anand Tucker (Hilary and Jackie), the filmmaker does an admiral job of depicting England during many different eras. Shot on location in London, Sussex and Derbyshire (and on sets built at Twickenham Studios), much of the action takes place during the 1980’s, with flashbacks to the 50’s and the swinging 60’s. Blake of the 50’s is played with wide-eyed wonder by a sweet faced Bradley Johnson. But the star of the show is the teenage Blake played with much aplomb by Matthew Beard. According to the press notes, Matthew has been acting in television and theatre productions since the age of five, but When Did You Last See Your Father? is his first feature film. Bravo! He manages to convey all the angst and awkwardness of a troubled teenager as he struggles to come to terms with his over-bearing, philandering father.

The cast is rounded out by Arthur’s wife Kim (veteran British actress Juliet Stevenson) who is a doctor in the same medical practice, sister Gillian (the underutilized Claire Skinner), Blake’s wife Kathy (also underutilized, Gina McKee), maid Sandra (Elaine Cassidy) and Aunt Beaty (the beautiful Sarah Lancashire). A good deal of the story revolves around the infidelity of Arthur and the questionable paternity of Beaty’s daughter Josie.

After rereading what I have written, I am afraid that I might have left the reader with a very dour and melancholy impression. Quite the contrary! To the director’s credit, he infuses the film with humor and wonderful visual flourishes (mostly involving mirrors). The underlying theme of reflections was not lost on me! And a soundtrack that had me singing along (I apologize to those around me).

Since I am daughter and therefore at a disadvantage to understand the complexities of the father/son bond, I couldn’t help but leave the theatre thinking about my own relationship with my father – who is ailing at the moment. My dad is the sweetest man in the world and has taught me valuable life lessons. He would have undoubtedly imparted untold scads of knowledge, had he had a son. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a son and because of his amiable personality, I have absolutely no fodder with which to write a juicy book. Gee – thanks Dad! (No matter what age, kids are always such ingrates!)

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