Love After Love, Cineworld, Edinburgh International Film Festival

In the opening scene Glenn's extended family are celebrating with him, but with the shadow of his terminal illness hanging over them.  His death soon after is met in differing ways by wife Suzanne (Andie MacDowell) and sons Nick (Chris O'Dowd) and Chris (James Adomian).  The family drama that unfolds explores the effects of grief, and the conflicts that run within families.

Nick can't maintain relationships, Chris drinks too much, and Suzanne worries about them both, but is trying to get on with rebuilding a life she can be happy with.  Life goes on and has to be dealt with. Even if there's no clear resolution.

It's well acted and nicely filmed, with a script that reflects the messiness of real conversation.  There are some memorable moments too, notably O'Dowd's cringeworthy attempt at a toast to the man dating Suzanne, and digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole of embarrassment.  But in the end I can't recommend this as worthy of your time.

In part this is because the wealthy characters seem little affected by the real world around them.  And partly because the editing makes for a confusing experience.  There's a Woody Allen feel to the rapid transition between scenes, but without Allen's narrative awareness, and the result often lacks context or a sense of time making it hard to follow developments.  An intrusive soundtrack doesn't help matters.

Ultimately this feels like self indulgent, middle class navel gazing, the epitome of 'first world problems'.