This was a good effort with some excellent performances from Kevin Whately, Derek Jacoby and Robson Green, who as a rule I don't reckon to be much of an actor. It was let down by some very poor production values, possibly driven by a low budget. The waves of bombers coming over at what looked more like 500' rather 10,000' were totally unconvincing, as were the pathetic pyrotechnic affects, with the unexploded bomb going off sounding like a Chinese cracker. Joe's son remained a sergeant all the way through the war despite flying on over 50 ops - that would never have happened, he would have almost certainly made warrant officer by the end. There were innumerable continuity errors - Joe goes out for a walk with his medal ribbons the right way up, half way through the walk they are suddenly upside down, and when he gets home they have disappeared altogether! Terrible. Shame the actors were let down by a sloppy production team. Not one I'd bother to watch again.

After reading the reviews here I was not expecting much. However, the film is a worthy send off for Alan Plater who died in 2010. I always like Robson Green, Kevin Whately and Derek Jacobi and their performances make this production. While the special effects were not that special the acting was excellent and the plot gave me some insight into the Home Guard in World War 2, which reflected rather better on them than we are used to from the BBC TV series Dad's Army.

The film deals with the trauma for parents in WW11 and the pressure on relationships, but in the end is uplifting. I have been watching so much rubbish recently, it seems to me, and coming across something like this was a pleasant surprise. I don't think you will regret spending your time watching it.

After reading the reviews it seems like we were watching different movies. I love this movie and watch it weekly. I love the banter and how Joe reacts to his wife leaving him.