Rory's Way

An ornery septuagenerian Scots islander makes it to San Francisco to rebuild bridges with his estranged son, then forms a life-changing bond with the latter's baby boy in this US-shot adaptation of The Etruscan Smile by noted Spanish novelist José Luis Sampedro. The book's actually about an old geezer from southern Italy visiting family in Milan, but the Scottish twist in the adaptation reveals the universal resonance in the material and provides a tailor-made role for a typically imposing Brian Cox. He's in his element as the obstreperous title character, driven by centuries-old clan rivalries at home, yet uncertain when the shadow of mortality looms. To be fair, the story heads exactly where you would expect, but meaty performances sustain the drama, with co-star JJ Feild (Austenland) putting up surprisingly strong resistance to veteran scene-stealer Cox. Mature audiences will especially appreciate the home truths in the subject matter. Indeed, the film's readiness to seek an understanding accommodation with the elderly reprobate rather than take him down a peg or two makes for a refreshing change.