Closing Night Gala - Northbound

Arthur is every care home's worst nightmare. The old man refuses to let go of his rebellious streak - alcohol, drugs, nude sunbathing, and illegal cockfighting keep disrupting the facility's routine. Getting kicked out was only a matter of time. Kevin is sent to collect his unruly grandfather and soon finds himself, against all expectations, on a road trip to Canada.

With a co-pilot like Arthur, the journey turns into a rollercoaster for Kevin. The old man confronts his far-too-well-behaved grandson with his past sins and tries to convince him to carry on the family tradition of whiskey-making.

Director William Scoular finds the perfect lead in Bruce Dern - wily, sentimental, and always good for a surprise. Balancing situational comedy with melodramatic turns, "Northbound" is a charming cross-generational road movie, carried by Dern's weathered wisdom and a story that knows a road trip is never really about the destination.