DOUBLE SCULLS

Australia, 1986, 90 minutes. Colour.
John Hargreaves, Chris Haywood, Bill Kerr, Judi Farr, Kelly Dingwall, Mercia Deane- Johns, Colleen Clifford, Vincent Ball, Queenie Ashton.
Directed by Ian Gilmour.

Double Sculls was the directorial debut of actor Ian Gilmour. He gave up acting at the end of the 80s after a career during the 70s and 80s and took on directing full-time, his career was principally with television series and episodes.

The film has a strong cast led by John Hargreaves. The film focuses on sport, specifically sculling. However, it is more about character, problems, hospitals, alcoholism, therapy.

1. The Australian setting? Themes?

2. Sydney, homes and hospitals, the harbour? Score?

3. The title, the reference to sport, therapy, the principal focus?

4. The prologue, Sam and his work, Edwina and the tensions? Paul? The kid, the fridge, the phone, the fire? Reactions?

5. Six years later, Sam and his work, serious? Edwina, love and tensions? The children? At home? Out?

6. The character of Paul, the file, the recreation room, avoiding people, going out, found? The house? Tensions, drink? Melanie, girlfriend? Business? The collapse and his being sorry? The reaction to Sam? The dare, winning, changing? The interactions with Curly? The therapy, the change? The ABC? The bond with Edwina? The change, irregularity, but still skilful? The victory? Drinks and reaction, to not winning? The truth, the response, talking to Sam? The race and achievement? His being helped? Friends, self-worth, walking to the future?

7. Sam, self-assurance, meeting Paul, telling Edwina? Stuart and the pressure? Pills and mediocrity? Edwina’s pressure? Finding Paul, preaching, self-help or not? Curly, the sculls, the dare, practice? Angers, giving up, the job? Curly and the therapy? Drinking and anger? Edwina talking, the reaction, Paul, the truth sinking in? Victory and recovery?

8. Edwina, the wealth, pressure, tensions, love? Her expressions? The relation to Paul? Avoidance? Watching, winning?

9. Curly and his skills, help, the therapist, alcohol? The ideas, the theories about highs and lows? As dramatised?

10. Melanie, Paul’s friends, the pubs?

11. Stuart and his snobbery, the building?

12. The glimpse of Australian life, the cross-section?

13. The role of sport, the highs from sport, achievement?

14. The issues of alcohol and drugs?

15. A persuasive look at love, friendship and bonding?