Sometimes Always Never * * * *

      This film is so quirky it could easily outstay its welcome.  But it doesn't.  It actually draws you into it's sad but funny world.
       Years ago a young man went missing.  Since then his mother has died, whilst his father has continued with his tailoring business, and his brother has married and had a son of his own.
       Set in North England, it is the relatives of the missing brother that this story is about.  We

Scrabble is bigger than
surfing in North England

commence with the father and son responding to a police call.  The police think they might have found the missing brother.  Together the living brother and the father travel hundreds of miles to a police station. Whilst travelling they meet a couple who suffer the same loss - their son disappeared years ago as well.
        At a B+B hotel they spend the night playing Scrabble and form a relationship that will have a future consequence.
       On return, the father moves in with the living son's family even though he has a comfortable house of his own.  He is obsessed with finding the missing son and wants to use his grandson's computer.  Through online scrabble he becomes convinced he has found his missing son.  In the meantime the tension grows hugely between the living son and the father. The parable of the prodigal son becomes a parable in this story.
       It stars Bill Nigh as the father, and always his performance is impeccable.  As a tailor his casual but immaculate dress sense is impressive too.  But the performance from the other actors should not be overlooked either. All are outstanding.  It's an unusual story with comically odd characters told in a caring and sensitive manner.  It has a unique atmosphere that both repels you and seduces you.
       It's from director Carl Hunter, although he has done other work I believe this is his first feature film.  I look forward to more work from him.