The Closer We Get

When her elderly mother's stroke leaves her needing constant care, Scottish film-maker Karen Guthrie returns to the family nest to document her progress and come to terms with the household's unresolved and somewhat unusual backstory. In this hour of crisis, her father also moves back in, and as all concerned contribute to the changed daily domestic routine, Guthrie takes the opportunity to reveal his past misadventures. Her suggestion is that coming to terms with his hurtful choices is a challenge that both parents and children must face while there's still time to do so. Other people's families are, of course, endlessly fascinating, and the Guthrie saga is certainly a dramatic one. Yet while the emotional investment behind the camera is obvious - and this small-scale documentary offers a tender, intimate portrayal - it's never quite bereft of the feeling that Guthrie is taking advantage of her family. That misgiving aside, it is a compelling watch.