THE very definition of “quirky”, this period comedy-drama with fantasy elements is pure movie Marmite.

You’ll either be won over by a witty script, top-notch performances and a heartwarming tale, or, like Peter O’Toole’s grumpy Horatio Fisk, regard the whole thing as “poppycock”.

Fisk Junior (Jeremy Northam) has three chance encounters with the mysterious Dean Spanley (Sam Neill), and discovers that, under the influence of his favourite tipple, Dean remembers a very odd past life.

What he doesn’t expect is just how this life ties into that of his own fractured family.

Warm, funny, original and surprisingly uplifting, I found it a highly enjoyable experience.