When Did You Last See Your Father?
By MovieCritic on 06-21-2008
When Did You Last See Your Father?, an examination of a son's reckoning with his father's death, is an unusually intelligent drama with the courage to leave its audience as life sometimes leaves us -- with loose ends and without a final catharsis or resolution. Idealists will appreciate the sometimes-stark portrayal of a deeply flawed but loving family. Guardians will like it as well; one of the ways the filmmakers choose to show emotional conflict is through the characters' reactions to their duties. Artisans and Rationals are not the most likely audience for the heavy, intense drama, though it could be therapeutic to individuals facing the issues the film explores.
Blake Morrison (Colin Firth) is an acclaimed poet. His doctor father, Arthur (Jim Broadbent) does not seem to respect Blake's chosen profession as much as the son would like. That reality causes some bitterness between them, as does his father's character issues. Dad gets a kick out of duplicity, both minor and major, from getting good seats at the race track by lying about "mistakes" at the ticket office to philandering. When Dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Blake comes to the family home to help get affairs in order. His stay triggers memories, shown as long flashback scenes, of the history of the father-son relationship. The superb acting is a highlight, with an exceptionally strong performance by Juliet Stevenson as wife and mother Kim Morrison who viewers witness as she endures her husband's dancing at a party with his long-term mistress, a painful conversation with her son about the male family members' record of bowel cancer, and waking up next to her husband's corpse after having chosen to lay down beside him after he passes away.
Verdict: Be prepared for an intense experience that is not depressing but also does not take the easy route of moving its audience to uplift.
