The Carer

Brian Cox gives a wonderful performance in The Carer, an enjoyable comedy drama about two people who form an unlikely friendship. The Scottish star plays Sir Michael Gifford, a retired Shakespearean actor who is suffering from a degenerative form of Parkinson's disease. His daughter (Emilia Fox) insists on someone new to look after him, though none of his previous carers have been up to the task, since Sir Michael is extremely difficult to deal with. But gradually he grows fond of his latest caregiver, Dorottya (Coco König), a young Hungarian immigrant who tolerates his cantankerous, foul-mouthed behaviour. All of this is entirely predictable, but it is funnier than you might expect, with Cox grabbing numerous laughs along the way. He seems to relish the spiky dialogue that he's given, and his performance ensures that the film is a pleasant surprise.