To A Child Dancing in the Wind
Dance there upon the shore;
What need have you to care
For wind or water’s roar?
And tumble out your hair
That the salt drops have wet;
Being young you have not known
The fool’s triumph, nor yet
Love lost as soon as won,
Nor the best labourer dead
And all the sheaves to bind.
What need have you to dread
The monstrous crying of wind?
~W. B. Yeats
Thus begins the small, unassuming film On a Clear Day from writer Alex Rose and director Gaby Dellal. On a Clear Day is the antithesis of the summer blockbuster. No explosions, car chases, aliens or costumed do-gooders and was exactly what Mary and I wanted to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary (Saturday, the 13th). On a Clear Day is a quiet, touching film about relationships and change and being the hero of your own life.
The movie stars Peter Mullan (of My Name is Joe and Session 9 fame) as Frank, a 55 year old shipbuilder who is unceremoniously let go from his job. Having no clear direction as to what to do with the rest of his life he spends his time with what is seemingly his only passion, swimming. When one of his fellow unemployed friends makes a comment about swimming the English channel, a spark is lit in Frank’s imagination. With the help of his rag-tag mates he begins training while trying to keep his plans secret from his wife and family. What you soon learn, however, is that On a Clear Day is not just about Frank. Each character has some secret or regret or lack of direction of their own and their interaction with Frank in pursuit of his new dream ignites change in their own lives.
Peter Mullan is great. He plays Frank as a very stoic, lost man and brings him to the screen in a very real way. Frank’s wife is played lovingly by the very beautiful Brenda Blethyn (Pride and Prejudice). Their performances are very subtle and it gives their film relationship a very palpable reality. I enjoyed On a Clear Day for the same reason I enjoy films like Return to Me and I.Q., iti s the banter between the group of fellas that makes this film. Frank’s friends are all stock characters but they are played so well that it gives each character dimension. Sean McGinley (Braveheart), Ron Cook (Chocolat), Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings) and Benedict Wong make up Frank’s gang of accomplices. They each have humorous lines and aspects to their characters but Billy Boyd is the true comic relief of the movie and he is hilarious. He did such a great job and it was so good to see him in a film post Lord of the Rings. I hope he makes many more.
Ultimately On a Clear Day could be accused of being a feel good film with a predictable outcome. What transforms it into a remarkable film is a combination of a wonderful screenplay, lovingly crafted performances, and terrific water cinematography. There is more than I have revealed going on under the surface of this film as to do so would spoil the experience. If you have a chance to see it in theatres or when it comes out on DVD I predict you will enjoy it. Our friend Pat met us at the theatre Saturday night to watch this film. As the credits rolled she turned to me and said, “What a delightful film”. Those four words are all the review that you really need.
You know my love for all things (and people, then) Scottish, so if I may just say this… Peter Mullan wasn’t in Full Monty, but in My Name is Joe…
Oops…guess I misread something. Edited just for you Anne, thanks. And I loved the Scottish accents as well. Especially the two young twin boys who were in it.
congrats! 17 years is a landmark! 🙂
i lov billy boyd!! not only did he play one of my favorite character in LOTR but he always wears a kilt on the red carpet.
Thanks Mysfit. We figured out that Mary has now known me for a little over half of my life. Weird to think about as it certainly doesn’t feel like we have been married close to two decades.
You would really enjoy Billy in this, he is really fun.
17 years is a long time. Congrats.
I remember the trailers for this. Looked a bit feel-good as you mentioned, and didn’t stay long so I never got to see it.
Thanks Fence. Isn’t this already out on DVD over there?
Could be. I tend to ignore dvd rentals though because of my cinema card its cheaper to see things in the cinema and I end up forgetting all about dvds.
I loved the trailer for this film and can’t wait until it hits DVD. We need more feel good films.
Congrats as well on 17 years as well! Here’s to many, many more!!!!!
fence… your cinema card sounds great but don’t you miss the extras included on DVD’s or does that not interest you as much. I enjoy the behind the scenes kind of stuff especially on DVD’s such as the LOTR DVD’s where Peter Jackson packed them with so much extra stuff ie. loactions, deleted scenes, etc.
If I’ve liked the film I will usually buy the dvd at some stage. And in that case I love the extras, I don’t think I’ve made it through all the LOTR extras yet you know 🙂
And I’m a big fan of commentaries of films I liked. Think they are such great insights into the whole filming world.
Yes they are Fence….LOTR really raised the bar, and my expectations, for extras and I find myself disappointed alot when little or nothing is put into the extras.
I was really disappointed with the Mirrormask commentary. Its not that I would change the current one so much as there needed to be a separate commentary that addressed where inspiration for certain ideas came from, etc. I really wanted to listen to or read someone go into detail about how much this film referenced Labyrinth and other films, etc. and was disappointed that I did not get that.
Recently I’ve been happy with the extras on Nanny McPhee, Love Actually, Chronicles of Narnia…those were excellent!!!
I spy…a hobbit!
and with no clues! Very good Janet! 😉
Thanks for the anniversary wishes. I really enjoyed this movie. The actors and the characters they played were great as was the story.