Tony Webster (Jim Broadbent) is a curmudgeonly fellow who has a small camera repair shop that keeps him busy in his retirement. He has set routines. He meets his ex-wife, Margaret (Harriet Walter) regularly and finds himself drafted into helping his pregnant daughter (Michelle Dockery) with Lamaze. Into his structured life comes a certified letter which indicates he has been willed a diary from his college girlfriend's mother.
Much of the story is told in flashback, with young Tony (Billy Howle) meeting Veronica (Freya Mavor) at a party. Of course, Tony's school chums figure as well, most notably Adrian (Joe Alwyn), a self-styled philosopher. Tony's memories of the past are soon challenged by evidence from the past, either from his former classmates or from Veronica (Charlotte Rampling). Investigating the past at this distant point reveals a story that he never knew. New information leads to a reassessment of his memories.
The movie plays as a sort of mystery. Jim Broadbent does an excellent job of being a likeable curmudgeon, partly because he doesn't realize he is a curmudgeon. Very engaging and quite enjoyable.
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