IN FADING LIGHT

UK, 1989, Colour.
Joe Caffrey, Mo Harrold, Joanna Ripley, Dave Hill.
Directed by Murray Martin.

In Fading Light is a small-budget local, northern English film made in the city of Shields. It was made by the Amber production team, a group of local people since the late '60s who want to make films in a co-operative, dramatising the working-class way of life in the area. The screenplay (as for other Amber productions was written by Tom Hadaway (previously owner of a fish shop in the district).

The film is very naturalistic in its style. The crew went to the town, went into people's homes, the pubs and clubs, the streets and the wharves and spent a number of months on board a fishing trawler - all with the result of enabling the audience to see everything in close-up, share the experience of the people, the physical hardships, the dangers. In this way, the film production style, camera work and editing are excellent. The performances are also excellent - persuading audiences that these are authentic people from Shields rather than a cast.

The film has a narrative - a young girl comes back to the town to seek her father, the captain of the trawler, and accompanies him on ten days of fishing. However, the narrative framework is not the important thing, it is the immersion of the audience in a way of life.

The film is an excellent example of this kind of co-operative film-making, outside mainstream.

1. The quality of the production, the company and its philosophy, actors, producers, writers? The dramatisation of a working-class life? Successfully?

2. Local production, small budget, atmosphere of authenticity, the credibility of the cast, the authentic writing?

3. A sense of realism with naturalistic acting, dramatising situations and photography? The film as a slice of life, the audience experiencing and sharing with the cast? The feel of the experience? The objective viewpoint - strengths and weaknesses of the characters, good and bad?

4. The title, Karen quoting the poem, her father wanting to write it down - coming to shore and surviving through all the dangers and hardships?

5. Karen's story: travelling from Newcastle to Shields, the ordinary young woman, her age and experience, educational background, life with her mother, seeking her father? Arriving in Shields, the wharf, seeking out her father? The effect of her presence on everyone - the truth and the ugly rumours? Karen in herself, family background, making the trip, wanting the fulfilment of a relationship with her father? Going on board, hard work, earthy with the men, getting Mickey to talk, the hostility of Dandy Mac? The young man? Her hard work and earning her place on the crew? The return home, the achievement of reconciliation with her father, the bonds, his inability to stay put and be with her? Her decisions to leave, meeting Mickey, going off to Ireland - her life, to be continued...?

6. The picture of the town of Shields, its livelihood on fishing, the sea, the wharves, the notice about deaths of fishermen? The North Sea fished out and the poor catches? The close-ups of the fishing, the detail of the engineering, the boats, the tackle, the nets, sorting out the fish, seals? Lack of money? Business exploiting the fishermen? The shops? Jobs, the boats and crews, the canneries and the women working there? Relaxing life in the city, the pubs and the clubs, singing and dancing? The meaning of life for this community of working-class people?

7. Alfie and the boat, coming in, the chain and the injuries? The friends? The proprietors and their deals? His relationship with Betty, his past marriage? Going fishing, the crew, the hard work, his knowledge of the seas, decisions, talking with each of the crew, accepting Karen, having her on board, the warmth of his relationship with her and his love for her? Drinking, steady nerves? Crises, sewing up injuries? The storm, the return? The reconciliation with Betty? The final talk with Karen and her leaving? His inability to put down roots, difficulties in commitment?

8. Mickey, the quiet sailor, on the move, the accident and its being tended? On board, silent, Karen getting him to talk? Hard work, contribution to life on the ship? Sense of balance? The further injury, relationship with Karen, going to Ireland, her accompanying him?

9. Dandy Mac, his silence, spurning Karen, insulting her? The clash with the other men? Going round the twist - and the flame to get rid of the spirits? His mellowing, the drink at the end? Relationship with Irene?

10. The young boy, going on board, the experience, hard work, learning, working in the fish shop?

11. The proprietors, their deals, making money? Radio contacts, communication with the boat? The classes in the town?

12. Betty and Irene, their hard work, the cannery, style of life, friendships, jealousies, Irene searching Karen's things, women supporting each other, going to the club, singing and dancing, the men, philosophising about relationships, the reconciliation and the future?

13. The naturalistic techniques, the overall effect of immersing the audience in the experience and getting to know the characters?

14. Working-class England of the '80s? The insights into Thatcherite England? Hardships, future?