What a tender, lovely movie this is. This is an autobiographical film based on the director's own experience: shortly after his mother died, his father came out of the closet and decided he wanted to explore the side of himself he'd been hiding all his life. Shortly after that, he was diagnosed with cancer.
As it skips around in time, the film chronicles Oliver's (Ewan McGregor) own struggles with love and his memories of his father's new-found happiness and freedom, even as he is in the grip of terminal illness. The movie is a melancholy expression of love and life and death, but also maintains a gentle sense of humor. It has a wonderfully humane spirit, and Christopher Plummer really tops himself with a performance as Oliver's father, Hal, who loves life and doesn't let his illness stop him from living it.
It had been a while since I'd gone to the theater to watch a film, but it really is the only way to watch a movie... something hypnotic in those 24 frames of actual film passing before your eyes.
This is the best movie of the year so far. Go see it.
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