Review: Aren't We Havin' A Good Time (Short film)

Aren't We Havin' A Good Time is a short film directed by Derry Shillitoe and starring Kieran Hardcastle (This Is England) and Nicholas Lumley (Paddington 2) as Kezz and Peter, a grandson and grandfather. 

Kezz visits Peter at a care home, but Peter is suffering from dementia and barely acknowledges his presence. You get a sense early on that Kezz feels that his grandfather is now lost to the condition and the visits are more out of duty than anything else. 

However, one day Kezz is told by the nurse that his grandfather, who was a popular club singer in the 70s and 80s, has been serenading his fellow patients. Kezz is making a living as a club compere himself and we begin to understand that his love of that life has been, at least in part, influenced by his grandfather’s background.

Kezz has a big night coming up and at the last minute he decides, perhaps recklessly, to bring his grandfather along so he can experience that environment again. At first Peter looks lost and we sense it might all go badly wrong. Then when one of the acts breaks his guitar strings on stage, Kezz puts some background music on. Lo and behold his grandfather starts singing along, firstly in the crowd and then on stage. Peter’s performance ends with a standing ovation from the half dozen or so in attendance.

This is a really sensitively put together film, that is sure to provoke further thought and discussion. It features an excellent appearance by Hardcastle, who also wrote it and delicately weaves it all together. Lumley is also very convincing throughout as a dementia sufferer in a role that could be hard for many to get right.

The other supporting cast are all excellently chosen and more than convincing in their roles. The directing by Shillitoe is tactful and sympathetic and the camerawork and editing is excellent, belying the tiny budget it was presumably made for. All in all, it's a real triumph.