Watch And When Did You Last See Your Father?
- PG-13
- 2007
- 1 hr 32 min
-
6.8 (4,700)
And When Did You Last See Your Father? is a 2007 British drama film directed by Anand Tucker, and based on the memoir of the same name by author Blake Morrison. The film explores the complicated relationship between Morrison (played by Colin Firth) and his father, Arthur (Jim Broadbent), who is dying of cancer. The story is told through a series of flashbacks and present-day scenes, as Morrison reflects on his childhood and the strained relationship he had with his father. The film explores themes of love, loss, and family dynamics, and features standout performances from its talented cast.
As the film begins, Morrison is a successful writer and poet living in London with his wife and children. He receives a call from his mother (Juliet Stevenson) informing him that his father's cancer has taken a turn for the worse. Morrison reluctantly travels to his childhood home in Yorkshire to be with his family during this difficult time.
Arthur is a larger than life character, charming and charismatic, but also domineering and controlling. He always seems to be at the center of attention, and never shies away from confrontation. Morrison, on the other hand, is more reserved and introspective. He finds himself frustrated with his father's behavior, but also struggling with his own feelings of guilt and inadequacy.
Throughout the film, we see flashbacks to Morrison's childhood, where his father's behavior was even more unpredictable and volatile. We see Arthur teasing his son mercilessly, embarrassing him in front of his friends, and generally making life difficult for him. Despite all this, there are moments of tenderness between them as well. We see Arthur teaching his son to fish, or offering him advice on how to talk to girls.
As Arthur's health deteriorates, Morrison is forced to confront his own feelings of anger and resentment. He is haunted by memories of a fight they had when he was a teenager, and struggles with the fact that he never properly reconciled with his father. Through it all, there is a sense that Morrison's love for his father is deeply conflicted. He resents him for the way he treated him as a child, but also feels a sense of nostalgia for those same moments.
The film does an excellent job of capturing the complexities of family relationships, and the way that our feelings toward our parents can be both profound and fraught. Both Firth and Broadbent give excellent performances, playing off each other's energy and creating a compelling dynamic onscreen. Stevenson is also excellent as Morrison's long-suffering mother, who is caught in the middle of her husband and son's feud.
Overall, And When Did You Last See Your Father? is a moving and poignant film that explores universal themes of love, loss, and forgiveness. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of family, and the way that even the most complicated relationships can teach us important lessons about ourselves and the world we live in.
And When Did You Last See Your Father? is a 2007 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.