It's a great pity that this marvellous film was released after Atonement because it blows it out of the water. Unlike Atonement which was above all a cynical exercise in Festival film making closely allied to multi-media hype And When Did You Last See Your Father is just about making a high quality film aimed at the Art House rather than the Multiplex audience and any Awards/Nominations it happens to garner will be a bonus rather than a deliberate target. It's never been a secret that Jim Broadbent is one of Englands' finest actors and here he gives arguably his finest performance on film; Colin Firth on the other hand is best known for a well-polished limited range, perhaps limited by lack of opportunity rather than lack of talent and here he offers support of the highest quality. Juliet Stevenson has done far better work than this and indeed one wonders why she accepted a part that she can walk through and any film that features Sarah Lancashire is going to have at least a few worthwhile moments when she is on screen. In what amounts to a glorified cameo she comes into her own at the very end of the film in a standout scene with Colin Firth. Whilst hardly a film to send you of of the cinema with a song in your heat and a smile on your lips it is one to warm you a little and earn your respect.
