Beyond The TARDIS Sometimes Always Never by Djak Forrest

Tonight, I had the rare opportunity of meeting a screenwriter and author of whom I'd interviewed last year (2018) and was extremely surprised and happy that he recognised me, even after all this time.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce was at Annan Cinema, SW Scotland, for a Special Screening of his new film Sometimes Always Never. It stars Bill Nighy and it's a clever little film, where there's more to the title than first meets the eye.

I don't want to give too much away, but it's about a father whose son walked out of the house after a heated game of Scrabble, and never returned, and of the father's relentless determination to find him and bring him home.

It's laugh out loud funny, but nestled in between it all, are those moments of sadness, about where they're going, what they're doing, and why they're doing it.

It's on par with Submarine. Although there's no narration. Its landscape, the photographic shots of portions of an object, give it a feel of familiarity. There's a dated appeal to it, that has been merged with the present. As though with the grief of the missing son, nothing in the surroundings have moved forward. The decor is firmly stuck in a bygone era. It's quaint. I'm already noticing things from my own childhood.

The title for the film will surprise you. It surprised me. I never realised it before. It makes perfect sense.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. From the outset you're not entirely sure if you are going to settle to it. But you do. Like trying on a new pair of shoes; you're not entirely sure you like the colour but you settle to it. You get comfortable, and you chuckle perhaps more than the person sitting next to you. There are so many funny gags, you can’t help but smile.

Bill Nighy as ever suits the role, and is he getting slimmer or is that the cut of the suit. He's passionate about clothes, I heard tonight. So, if that helps to understand the title, you may need to pay close attention to Bill.

Frank travelled up to the small, family run Lonsdale Cinema, in Annan town, Dumfriesshire, just for the Special Screening, and admitted that it was the first time he'd actually, properly seen the film in its entirety. So, it was an emotional moment for him at the end, smiling as ever, greeting the guests who had come to witness the film with him.

The Q&A at the end of the screening was as light-hearted as the film, with some Doctor Who questions thrown in - not from me, I might add. I was curious over the title of the film!

The film is also directed by long-time friend Carl Hunter who was a member of the band The Farm, back in the early 80s. Hunter has worked with Boyce before, as a photographic illustrator for the book 'The Unforgotten Coat' and was producer and co-writer of the British comedy set on a Merseyside allotment called 'Grow Your Own'. They have worked on other projects and have known each other for years.

Sometimes Always Never is a Comedy, Drama, Mystery. It's a 12A, and runs for 1hr 31mins. It was first released on the 14th June, 2019. It stars, Bill Nighy, Alice Lowe, Sam Riley, and Alexei Sayle.