The Sense of an Ending

A legal tussle over a bequest from an old school friend stirs up unfinished business for Jim Broadbent's otherwise settled 70-something divorcee in this adaptation of Julian Barnes's Man Booker Prize winner. As a very literary exploration of how truth and memory often bristle against each another, the novel isn't obvious fodder for the big screen, but playwright Nick Payne's script fleshes out the everyday lot of its curmudgeonly protagonist, while preserving the through-line of a youthful love affair whose tragic consequences echo down the years. Indian director Ritesh Batra (acclaimed for The Lunchbox) turns in a classy English-language debut, sharpened by the contribution of Charlotte Rampling as Broadbent's embittered old flame, yet ultimately delivers a film that's a contemplative reflection on our emotional lives rather than an emotional experience in itself. As in the novel, the climactic reveal is contentious and not altogether persuasive, thus undercutting the film's attempt at a more upbeat tone. The cast, however, including a wonderful Harriet Walter as the sceptical ex-wife, are impeccable throughout.