Dean Spanley

While Neill gives a masterclass in subtle eccentricity and Northam and Brown happily play second string, the theatricals are wisely left to legendary virtuoso O'Toole.

– Sky Movies reviewer Eliot Noble, 9 May 2009

All of us have had these difficult familial relationships, and I think it's a film for all of us who understand the relationship between a father and son. It's been interesting watching how various members of the crew have been looking at the monitors during scenes, because they come up to me and say,'I had the same thing with my father'.

– Peter O'Toole, quoted on website Rotten Tomatoes, 29 January 2008

Toa Fraser's sensitive direction of this deceptively challenging and surprisingly satisfying film, keeps the tone perfectly balanced in the manner of perhaps an eccentric English tale with dashes of humour and pathos. The film's beautiful images are adorned with an economical score and marvellous production design.

– Reviewer Andrew Urban on website Urban Cinefile, February 2009

... One of the greatest screenwriters around. It was Alan who is responsible for the father-son element in the script, which has become the core of the film.

– Sam Neill, in an interview for website Urban Cinefile, March 2009