I understand that when I plunk down my cash and enter a theater that I am subjecting myself to be manipulated. All literature manipulates us for its own purposes. When it is done right you are unaware of being pushed and prodded by the storyteller. When I'm aware of it, I resent it.
Director Anand Tucker apparently does not believe in subtlety, judging by his need to make us feel things at the times he deems appropriate in "When Did You Last See Your Father". It's a tiresome exercise despite an excellent performance by Jim Broadbent in the role of the father.
Blake (Colin Firth) is the grown son of Arthur (Jim Broadbent) and it is through his eyes and memories that we see their lives through the years. Alternating between flashback and the present, Tucker tries to make us understand the relationship between father and son now that father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It's a confusing affair with Blake as the eternally suffering son. His world, as he sees it is a torturous hell because his father goofs on him good naturedly and because he flirts and in at least one instance cheats on his mother. All of this is done in a life of fairly good privilege so it's not like Arthur is mistreating him either physically or economically. To Blake, Arthur is an unforgiveable monster. To me, Arthur is a fun loving guy with a character flaw of infidelity.
When the diagnosis is given, Blake feels the need to communicate with his father about all of his angst. As a viewer I couldn't have cared less about his angst. His life has been far better than most people and no horrific tragedy has befallen him. Blake is throwing a self-pity party and as you might expect it is self-serving and incredibly annoying.
One thing that does occur after watching "When Did You Last See Your Father" is worth mentioning, especially to those of us who have lost our father. In the very last scene, the director wants us to ponder the very last coherent conversation we had with our father. Sadly, I can't remember mine. This is the final manipulation in an embarrassingly manipulative experience.
