HEARTLANDS

UK, 2002, 95 minutes, Colour.
Michael Sheen, Mark Addy, Jim Carter, Celia Imrie, Ruth Jones, Philippa Peek, Jane Robbins, Paul Shane, Mark Strong.
Directed by Damien O'Donnell.

A small British road movie from the director of the picture of Pakistanis in Salford in the 1970s, East is East, Damien O'Donnell. This is a very localised film, from Nottinghamshire to Blackpool. It will be of more interest to local audiences, with its detailed picture of people and places, less to audiences beyond the British Midlands.

Colin is an agreeable, rather passive, newsagent, married to Sandy. Life goes on day after day in the same way, the main bright spot being the local darts competition and the possibility of going to the championships in Blackpool. One night Colin gets a shock to find that his wife is carrying on with the captain of the darts crew. Bewildered, he cuts his overlong hair, gets on his motor scooter and decides to go to Blackpool to get his wife back. It's what happens on the way that is the main thrust of the film: Colin's outward journey brings him in contact with nature in a way that he had never noticed before, with bikers, campers and singers on the road, with girls and teachers on a nature ramble, on fat Ron who gives him a lift with Mandy and her bored daughter as he goes on an illicit weekend. Needless to say, the effect on Colin is that he wakes up, his better nature emerges (especially listening to a sympathetic teacher and taking Mandy and the girl around the carnival that is Blackpool). He has a chance for a new life.

Michael Sheen is pleasing as Colin. Mark Addy is the obnoxious Ron. Enjoyable if you catch this film, but not one to pursue.

1. A British road film? The small scope of the road and the journey? Glimpses of the UK and the UK as heartland? The journey, the search for self, the search for place, the search for relationships?

2. The reality of the Midlands town, the open road, the peak district, Blackpool? The songs and the musical score - and the range of songs from Kate Rosby - composer, performer?

3. The title, its reference to the Midlands and the UK, to Colin's own sense of place in the world?

4. The credibility of the plot, character, behaviour?

5. The opening and Colin and Sandra, waking up, home life, opening the shop, the few customers, his boredom, the relief of darts (and his dreams of winning)? His relationship with Sandra, with Jeff, seeing Sandra kiss Jeff, his world shattering? The background of their being sweethearts, his buying the shop for her?

6. Sandra, marrying Colin, their home life, the shop, her relationship with Jeff, kissing him, the truth, her decision to leave?

7. Jeff as a policeman, visiting the shop, leaving the magazines askew, taking the magazine without paying, betraying Colin with Sandra? His being the captain of the darts team?

8. Colin and his realisation of the truth, separation, decision to go to Blackpool for the darts championship, his relationship with the rest of the team? His buying the bike? The slow journey giving him the chance to appreciate the countryside? At the pub, the meeting with Ron, the meeting with the couple, their friendship, Sarah finishing his joke? The lone protester? The campers? The pub and Kate Rosby and the songs? His meeting the girls on their ramble, Sonja and her advice? His appreciation of Nature, the girls covering the bike with autumn leaves? The trees and their beauty? His riding, looking at the sign, the truck destroying his bike? Thumbing a ride, the irony of meeting Ron, with Mandy and Ebony? Travelling with them, talk, the issues of relationships? Signing in at the hotel?

9. At Blackpool, his offering to take Mandy and Ebony about the town, their going to all the rides and winning the competitions, the big bear? Happy? Seeing Jeff and Sandra and watching them?

10. The darts championship, his going, the confrontation with Jeff? Talking with Sandra on the waterfront? His seeing the darts champion (whom he had seen on the television commercial) and his acknowledging him?

11. Jeff and Sandra, their affair, going to Blackpool, the reality and their being bored with each other, the decision of Sandra to go?

12. The members of the dart team, their characters, friendships, Z__ and his advice to Colin? The championship, the rival team, the comments on each other, Jeff and his being put off and losing?

13. The character of Ron, his talk, with Mandy and Ebony, his appearance, going to the hotel, Colin seeing him in the window with someone else?

14. The various people that he met on the way, their friendliness, their advice, support?

15. Colin back on his bike, searching for his future - and the way to Mandy and Ebony?