Any husband, father or son or anyone who knows a husband, father or son would undoubtedly be moved by this extremely beautiful film. Some have predicted that Clive Owen may win an Oscar for his sensitive and achingly real portrayal of Joe; if he did, it would certainly be an award well deserved.

Joe is an international sports journalist who spends a lot of time away from his home in rural South Australia where his wife Katy has made most of the decisions in bringing up their six-year-old son. Tragedy strikes, and Joe finds himself a single parent.

Life gets more complicated as Joe’s teenage son from a previous marriage arrives, and Joe is suddenly faced with a life of previously avoided responsibilities. We follow them as they live through their mourning, adapting to their new life and moving on. Does it make it stronger to know that this is based on a true story? I think so. Does Joe’s ‘just say yes’ philosophy to child-rearing work as a basis for bringing up two boys? I would have thought not, but I now have my doubts.

This film is thoughtful; it isn’t cynical. It is a sympathetic character study of a father in a tough situation. There is extra pleasure in seeing a familiar Australian setting – if you haven’t been to McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula you may be inspired to go after seeing this film. And a significant portion of the hauntingly ethereal score comes from Hal Lindes, a member of Dire Straits from 1980–85 who worked with Mark Knopfler on the soundtrack to the 1983 Scottish film Local Hero.