ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS
UK, 2002, 104 minutes, Colour.
Robert Carlyle, Rhys Ifans, Kathy Burke, Shirley Henderson, Ricky Tomlinson, Finn Atkin, James Cosmo.
Directed by Shane Meadows.
Young British director, Shane Meadows, made an impact with his gritty first feature, Twentyfour.Seven, a story of disaffected youth in his own Midlands and the efforts of a social worker to help them find some meaning in their lives. His second film, A Room for Romeo Brass, rather divided critics, with its portrait of younger teenagers and family disputes and pressures. He is still exploring families in this film but has the advantage of a very strong British cast.
Shirley Henderson is completely credible as a mother in her 30s, separated but now living with a genial and caring motor mechanic, played with surprising restraint and emotion by Rhys Ifans, who acts as a stable factor in the life of her teenage daughter, a fine performance by Finn Aitken. They live quietly in Nottingham, getting on with their reconstructed lives. When they appear on a television interview show with her sister-in-law and her musician husband, Dek takes the opportunity to propose but Shirley cannot bring herself to accept.
This brings her ex-husband back from Glasgow. Robert Carlyle gives another of his edgy performances, creating an erratic and irritating character, who expects that his merely turning up and turning on the charm (though he fails to realise just how limited this is) will win back wife and daughter.
Meadows is able to write domestic scenes that bristle with tension and emotional confusion. With his strong cast, that includes Kathy Burke and Ricky Tomlinson as the musician, the drama, set in the ordinary streets and homes of Nottingham, evokes recognition in the audience, especially regret that people can get their lives in such tangles.
1. Small-budget British film? Regional interest? Universal themes?
2. The title, the evocations of the West, myth-making, the parallels with the West and the Midlands, the poses, the tone? The songs?
3. The location photography, the realism of the Nottingham streets and houses? Glasgow?
4. The songs and their range, Charlie and his singing? Music, Jimmy and the earphones, the importance of music?
5. The television opening, the information about the family, Jimmy watching? Dek and his entrance, his proposing to Shirley, her hesitation and refusal? His being hurt? The relationship between Carol and Charlie? The separation, yet the friendship? Their children?
6. Jimmy, watching the television, at home in Glasgow, separated from Shirley and Marlene? The thugs in Glasgow, the attempted robbery, the hold-up of the clowns, their fighting back, the clash? The thugs and their pursuit of Jimmy? Coming to Nottingham, trashing Dek's place, and Charlie's?
7. Shirley and her relationship with Marlene, the bond between the two, Jimmy and his walking out on them? Dek and his being a substitute father, giving Marlene the gift of the watch, the heirloom from his father? His love for Shirley and Marlene? The routines of home life? Jimmy and his arrival, the disruption, Shirley and her response, being uncertain about her love for Jimmy? Jimmy and his taking Marlene out, her resistance, Dek and the watch and her returning it? The birthday celebration, her ringing Dek, the small cake together, the candle and the wishes, wanting to elope with him? Dek's choice, Marlene's choice? His taking her home? Shirley and her being town between Dek and Jimmy? Shirley and her background, at work, discussions with Jimmy, the birthday visit, waiting for Marlene to come home, her realisation of Jimmy's selfishness and self-centredness? Her choices?
8. Carol and Charlie, at home, with each other, the separation, yet being together, the kids? On television? Playing at the clubs? Bingo? Charlie and his home being trashed by the criminals? Carol and her anger with Dek, smashing his car?
9. Dek in himself, a quiet man, his work in the garage, his proposal on television, love for Shirley, love for Marlene, father figure? The clash with Jimmy, Jimmy intimidating him, the fight, confrontation at work? Jimmy and the Glaswegians and Dek taking them to Charlie's house? Shirley having to choose, Dek leaving, sleeping in the car, preparing to move? Marlene's call, his birthday celebration with her? His change of heart, ready to confront Jimmy, punching? Shirley's choice, their being a family together? A future?
10. Themes of homes, families, relationships, pain, economic backgrounds, moral choices?
