PLAYING FOR CHARLIE
Australia, 2008, 92 minutes. Colour.
Shane Connor, Jared Daperis, Jodie Rimmer, Richard Sutherland, Mark Leonard Winter.
Directed by Pene Patrick.
Playing for Charlie is a film about family relationships. It is also set in the context of rugby union – anticipating Clint Eastwood’s film, Invictus.
Jodie Rimmer plays a recently widowed mother of two, trying to bring up a baby along with her teenage son. She works double shifts at night. She also suffers from MS. Jared Daperis gives an interesting performance as her teenage son, bespectacled, but a talent for playing rugby union. Shane Connor is the sympathetic coach. He offers the boy an opportunity, which is compromised by his helping his half-brother, Mark Leonard Winter, with some criminal activity. His mother is dead-set against the football, is antagonistic towards the coach, but finally her son asks her to have some faith in him.
While the film does have some rugby union scenes which may puzzle those not familiar with the code, the focus is more on characters and interrelationships in a city context, a context of working-class people and the lack of financial support.
The film is a first feature for director Pene Patrick and she relies on her knowledge of rugby union. The musical score is by Lisa Gerard, Golden Globe winner for Gladiator, AFI award winner for Balibo and One Perfect Day.
1. A family drama? Realism? The background of school, work, family life, football?
2. The city settings, the poetic touches with the glimpses of the city, the skylines, industry? Realistic atmosphere? The musical score and its moods?
3. The title, Charlie as the young baby, Tony taking him to the football practices? His wanting to earn some support for his mother and brother? The aptness of the title – though seen to be much less playing for Charlie than the title might indicate?
4. Tony’s story, his age, his relationship with his father, the brief memory of his mother and father together? His looking after the baby? His relationship with his mother, her hard work? The tensions, paying the bills? The electricity going off? Her illness and her hard attitude towards her son? His being hurt, yet his support? At school? The probably of playing football, the approach by Joe Ruddock? His asking his mother, her antagonism towards Ruddock? His going to the practice, taking the baby, getting the friends to look after Charlie? Laura and her friendliness, care for the baby? His relationship with Scarf, his mother’s antagonism towards this half-brother that she knew nothing about? His work, his money deals? His wanting some kind of family bonding, being with Tony? Involving him in the deal? Its going wrong, Tony and the pursuit, hiding the money, losing it, Scarf and his injuries, Tony going to the hospital, Scarf and his rejection of him? Scarf and his contributions, getting the money to pay for the contact lenses, the money for the babysitting? Scarf as a character, his satisfaction in being with Tony and sharing work with him?
5. The character of the coach, his past career, his interest in Tony, urging him on, the discussions with Paula? Tony deceiving him? His going to see Paula and her rejection? His perseverance, allowing Tony to make a mistake, trying to persuade Coach Brady?
6. Coach Brady, his watching, his criteria? The past friendship with Joe? Tony and his missing the practice and the match? Getting another chance? The rivalry with the three generations of the family and the number 10 position? Coach Brady, Joe and the discussion, the young man getting number 8 and Tony getting number 10?
7. His mother in the wheelchair, his wheeling her down and urging her to imagine flying? His mother’s reconciliation with her son, coming to the practice?
8. Tony’s future, a young man learning by his mistakes, more mature for his age, his skill in sport, his future?
9. An Australian perspective on difficulties in family, relationships, support, hopes and futures?
