KILLING DAD OR HOW TO LOVE YOUR MOTHER

UK, 1989, 93 minutes, Colour.
Julie Walters, Denholm Elliott, Richard E. Grant, Anna Massey, Anna Chancellor.
Directed by Michael Austin.

Killing Dad is a black (perhaps grey) British comedy. It is based on a novel, Berg by Ann Quinn. It has been adapted for the screen and directed by Michael Austin (Greystoke).

It is the story of a young man, bought up by a doting mother, who goes to find his father with the intention of killing him rather than let him come back to the family.

The film is set authentically in South End on Sea. The film uses its locations excellently. It also has a superb cast at their best: Denholm Elliot as the ageing seedy father, Julie Walters coming on as a very eager woman, Richard E Grant (Withnail and Eye, How to Get Ahead in Advertising) as the son. Anna Massey is also very effective as the mother. Of interest is Laura Del Sol ( from the flamenco version of Carmen) in a supporting role.

The film is not a barrel of laughs. It has an atmosphere of bleakness and some despair about it. Michael Austin calls it comedy of quiet despair. It is effectively made - and makes some comment on contemporary English society .

1. An effective black, grey, comedy? Of quiet despair? Satire on Britain? Universal interest?

2. The use of Southend on Sea, the Palace Hotel, the pier, the restaurants, the streets, the railway station? Ordinary suburbia? The musical score?

3. The title and the subtitle concerning love of mothers? The original novel called Berg?

4. The style of humour: funny, ironic, satiric, black, message?

5. Denholm Elliott as Monty? The irony of his opening letter to Edith and his reaction to writing, the ironic voiceover, absent for 27 years, his way of life, not a family man, on the road, women, drink, money? His age? The relationship with Judith? Staying at the Palace? His plans, relationship with Judith? The club and the fight? Meeting Ali? On the steps, vomiting, asleep, almost Ali's victim? His puppet, William? The clashes with Judith? Clearing out, the new flat, not paying the bills, stealing the rug and the picture? The party and his irony with the dummy? His talking things over with Ali? The audience thinking him strangled? The chase for the dummy, being pushed into the sea? Finally being with Edith? A future? Portrait of a type?

6. The opening with Ali singing and almost drowning? Berg and his age, being looked after by his mother, fed, his moods, ache in the, head, his future, selling hair restorer that he invented? The mission, the reaction to his father, his mother wanting him to grow up and leave home? No farewell at the train? Arriving, his reaction? Encountering Margo and the dilapidated room? Listening at the wall? Meeting Monty, talk, vomiting helping him to bed - and attempting to kill him with the hammer? The encounters with Judith? Going to the Bingo, the winnings, the drink? The fight in the club and his bleeding nose? His serious-mindedness? Luisa seeing him? Going out with Judith attracted to her? The party and the dancing - and his awkward style? Monty going, finding him at the flat, not paying the bill., having to wash his back, the temptation to strangle him? Stealing the rug and the picture? Comforting Judith? His drinking, the attempt to strangle Monty? Rolling up the corpse in the rug, struggling with Judith, putting the rug in the railway station? Judith misinterpreting his motives? Louisa and her farewell, the possibility of going with her? His mother’s arrival, his reaction, Monty being alive, the chase, throwing the dummy in the sea, Monty going in, his falling in the water, almost drowning? Escape, return home, with Judith? The reaction to finding Monty? Running away, in the bus - to where?

7. Judith and Julie Waters’ style? The goodtime girl, age, with Monty, the drinking, coming on strongly to Ali? Her explanation about her being too eager and repelling men? The outings, the bingo, the drink, making herself attractive to Monty? The insult and the fight? The party and Monty's reaction with the dummy? The drinking? The mother's arrival and her reaction? The death of Monty, carrying the carpet, her hopes, the restaurant dinner and her comment about the smell? Going with Ali to meet his mother- waiting in the car for what?

8. Edith and her devotion of 27 years, the loving wife, over mothering her son, wanting her husband back, sending Ali on the mission, her voiceover of injunctions and her strictness? Her arrival, disapproval of Judith, her search in vain for Monty, being caught at the end in bed with her husband and Ali's reaction?

9. Louisa and her presence in the hotel, exotic, her dancing and being ignored, watching A1i, her friends at the party, going away, offering Ali a chance?

10. Margo and her eccentricity, the hotel, her ballet dancing, enjoying the party, being nosey?

11. The gang of toughs, the insult in the club, the carpet hitting them on the head, the chase and one of them drowning, the son and the relationship with his father at the bingo? Pocking fun at these gangs? The bingo, the players? The Palace Hotel.? The club and the flamenco dancing? The restaurant? Aspects of British life?

13. The overall effect - comic, ironic, message?