Last Shave

The humiliation of old age is well illustrated in this short tribute to the process of dying.

Rod (John Hudson) is stuck in the house, while his mother goes down to the chemist for a prescription. His old dad (Martyn Sanderson) lies in the other room, wheezing like a goat. He is too weak to sit up, without help. As for going to the toilet, that's an expedition requiring lifting, wheelchair propulsion and all the rest of it.

"Bloody pathetic," he moans. "Can't even take a crap."

Rold shaves him after the old man's attempts end in frustration.

"D'ya wanna go t'bed, Dad?"

"No good for anything else now."

David Reid shoots in close-up. The plot is minimal, the performances well judged.

Life at the end is minimal. It fits.