The Etruscan Smile

Rory MacNeil (Brian Cox) is an old-fashioned Scottish man who likes what he likes: whiskey, cigarettes, and swimming naked in the ocean. But when Rory falls ill, he must leave his isolated home on Hebridean Island and head for San Francisco in search of medical treatment. While in San Francisco, Rory reconnects with his estranged son, Ian, whom he hasn’t seen in over 15 years. Their relationship is full of resentment and unresolved baggage, as both have conflicting ideas about what it means to “be a man.” On top of their complicated history, Rory finds Ian’s fast-paced city life baffling, and struggles to fit in to this new world. Despite their differences, Rory and Ian have a lot to learn from one another, and their arguments slowly give way to acceptance and understanding. A charming blend of comedy and emotion, THE ETRUSCAN SMILE is a heartfelt film about love, forgiveness, and living life to the fullest. (In English and Gaelic with subtitles) —G.S.