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Falling is a 2005 British drama film directed by Tristram Powell and stars Michael Kitchen, Penelope Wilton, and Micaiah Dring. The film revolves around the strained relationship between a father and his young daughter and their journey to reconnect after years of separation. The film's opening scene sets the tone for the rest of the story. We see Henry Kent (played by Michael Kitchen) standing on a London street, visibly shaken and struggling to keep his emotions in check. He is a successful composer who has been living in New York for many years, but has returned to England to attend the funeral of his ex-wife, Sophie (played by Penelope Wilton). Sophie died suddenly, leaving behind their teenage daughter, Maya (played by Micaiah Dring), who Henry has not seen in over a decade.

As Henry tries to come to terms with Sophie's death, he is forced to confront the fact that he has been a largely absent father to Maya. He left England when she was just a young child and has had only sporadic contact with her since then. Maya, understandably, is resentful of her father's neglect and is initially hostile towards him when they are reunited at Sophie's funeral.

Despite Maya's initial reluctance, Henry is determined to reconnect with his daughter and make amends for his past mistakes. He starts by offering to take her back to New York with him to finish her schooling and to help her get into a good university. Maya is skeptical at first, but eventually agrees to the plan.

As they spend more time together, Henry and Maya start to build a tentative relationship. They take walks in Central Park, listen to music together, and spend time with Henry's musician friends. Maya is particularly drawn to a young singer named Alex (played by Olivia Poulet), who becomes something of a mentor to her.

However, their newfound closeness is threatened when Maya discovers a painful secret from her father's past. This revelation leaves her feeling betrayed and unsure if she can trust him again. Meanwhile, Henry is struggling to balance his desire to be a good father with his busy career and his own personal demons.

The film depicts the complexities of family relationships with honesty and sensitivity. Michael Kitchen delivers a nuanced performance as Henry, capturing both the character's charm and his flaws. Penelope Wilton's role is relatively small, but she leaves a lasting impression as the emotionally troubled Sophie. Micaiah Dring is a real find as Maya, conveying the character's resentment, vulnerability, and eventual warmth with subtlety and nuance.

In addition to its strong performances, the film is also notable for its beautiful cinematography. The scenes in New York are stylishly shot, capturing the energy and diversity of the city. The scenes in England are more subdued, with a muted color palette that reflects Henry's somber mood.

Overall, Falling is a thoughtful and affecting drama that explores the challenges of family relationships and the power of forgiveness. It is a film that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to reconnect with a loved one after a period of separation.

Falling is a 2005 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.