‘When Did You Last See Your Father?’ a Family Affair Between Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent

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CHICAGO – With Father’s Day upon us, what better time for a film about dysfunctional relations between a father and a son?

The tongue-tying title “When Did You Last See Your Father?” is a true story exploring the secrets and lies over a lifetime of dealing with dad and a son’s bitterness when confronting everything during the time of a patriarch’s death.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

When we meet Arthur – portrayed by Jim Broadbent (he’s memorable in 2001’s “Moulin Rouge!”) – he’s driving his small British family to a horseracing event in the 1950s. As an illustration of his character, he’s shown cutting in front of a long line of cars by using his status as a physician.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “When Did You Last See Your Father?” in our reviews section. View our full, high-resolution “When Did You Last See Your Father?” image gallery.

In a voice-over, his now-older son, Blake (Colin Firth), speaks of his father’s need to always seek an advantage by any means necessary. Fast forward to 1991.

Arthur is now mortally sick with cancer and Blake attends to the sickbed while thinking about his life with his father. That focuses on flashbacks during his adolescent years and the main story coincides with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

Through Blake’s memories, there’s a series of incidents that define his father’s need for coming out on top in every instance even to the sacrifice of his mousy wife and weaker children. In his attempt to find closure, Blake uses these memories to seek answers to his father’s behaviors and find peace in his own soul regarding the relationship.

Jim Broadbent as Arthur Morrison in “When Did You Last See Your Father?”. Photo credit goes to Giles Keyte, copyright goes to Father Features Limited and image is courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Colin Firth as Blake Morrison (left) and Gina McKee as Kathy Morrison in “When Did You Last See Your Father?”. Photo credit goes to Giles Keyte, copyright goes to Father Features Limited and image is courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “When Did You Last See Your Father?” review.