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Parents' Guide to

When Did You Last See Your Father?

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Mature, deeply affecting father-son drama.

Movie PG-13 2008 92 minutes
When Did You Last See Your Father? Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

How to love a man who is bombastic in contrast to your modesty, cunning in contrast to your sincerity? And what if that man was your father, who knew just when to make you laugh and moved you to explore the world -- but also broke your heart? And what if you then have to watch him die slowly as you grapple with forgiveness? These questions lie at the heart of WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER?, a drama based on the memoir by poet Blake Morrison. Told in a series of flashbacks, the film rotates between three distinct time periods in Blake's life: as a young boy (Bradley Johnson) confused by his father Arthur's (Jim Broadbent) trysts with a family friend, as a teen (Matthew Beard) who resents keeping secrets while trying to navigate adolescence, and as a grown man (Colin Firth) who must come to terms with the fact that Arthur can't undo the past and that it's time to say goodbye.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Director Anand Tucker brings deft grace to the movie, switching between the three time periods with ease and resisting the temptation to go for the cheap shots to eke out sympathy. (How rare!) The result is a sweet, honest, and profoundly moving drama.

It's also well-acted. As the teenage Blake, Beard owns the film; his every movement communicates longing and anguish, along with a hefty dose of teen disdain. Watching him transform into the adult Blake (Firth is as quietly affecting as the movie itself) adds potency to the entire story. And as Arthur, Broadbent offers a textured performance. He's neither monstrous nor angelic -- he's painfully human. A scene in which he teaches his son how to drive on a beach beautifully conveys a moment that means so much more.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about complicated father-son relationships. Did any of the scenes in the movie resonate? How do relationships change during puberty and after? What role do your kids think mothers should play in the relationship between fathers and sons? Did the movie do a good job highlighting tensions, or were the situations shown specific to the movie?

Movie Details

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