GOLD

Ireland, 2014, 88 minutes, Colour.
James Nesbitt, Maisie Williams, David Wilmot, Kerry Condon, Steven Mackintosh.
Directed by Niall Heery.

Gold is quite an Irish tale, set in Dublin in the present. It has a very strong character cast, especially David Wilmot playing a very difficult character, Ray.

The screenplay is well written in terms of plot as well as character development and characters speaking in a characteristically Irish way. The central focus is Ray, an offbeat character who is in Dublin because his father is dying, has spent 12 years away, leaving his daughter and her mother, returning because she had invited him 12 years earlier to call by. He is accident-prone, becomes part of the family, trying to relate to his daughter.

The daughter is also a central character, played by Maisie Williams, a teenager, rebelling against her step-father who is her athletics trainer. She is curious about sex with her boyfriend, tries to get some drugs – and later uses Ray to obtain some steroids to help her in her running. Also in the picture is the stepfather, Frank, played by James Nesbitt, a PE teacher with his own method of training, seen on several promotion videos shown throughout the film. He is doing his best with his wife who joined him after Ray left and dealing with Abby, her daughter.

The characters are interesting, especially Ray, his ups and downs, mental condition, emotions, dealing with his daughter, trying to help coach, with memories of his relationship with Alice and Frank being his teacher. There are some crises – but the film does have various glimmers of hope at the end and Ray and Abby settling down.

1. An Irish story, immersing the audience in the life in Ireland, Dublin? Sense of place, characters, lifestyle?

2. Dublin, homes and suburbs, the county, training, racing, the river, the falls? The local buildings, the gyms, hospital? The field, authentic? The musical score?

3. The title, gold as symbolising achievement, medals, the training for goals, commitment? Frank, the coach, his ideology? Abby, her ambitions? Gerald, training, his hopes?

4. The introduction to Abby and Devon, the focus on sex, in public, wanting drugs? The dealer, getting them to hide in the dumpster, her wanting steroids later, persuading Ray to get them for her? Naive, Devon giving the dealer his coat?

5. Ray, the introduction, getting the sofa from the yard, on the top of his car, a puzzling character, his father dying, stalking the family, the car following, Frank stopping, accosting him, recognising him? Alice’s letter inviting him, 12 years earlier? His calling by? His suicide attempt, the years in an institution, his low self-image, the therapist urging him to create a platform? Abby as his daughter? Memories of his past?

6. Frank, Physical Education at school, his theories, wanting to change the world? DVDs and their insertion in the film? Serious, comic? His love for Alice, taking her in? Abby as his daughter? Bringing her up? hard on her, her training? His reaction to Ray, not believing him? Finally accepting him? Ray knocking on the door in the night? Ray and Frank’s names in the past, wanker?

7. The scenes of training, Abby and her running? With Ray, the argument, Frank falling into the river, Ray unable to save him, the ambulance, Ray considered a hero? Frank in coma, the passing of time?

8. Ray and Alice, Frank’s absence, the effect, the sexual encounter, the teenagers seeing them? Abby and her reaction?

9. Ray, picking up Abby, wanting her to go to the hospital, the bargain, his diffidence in getting the steroids? Going to see his father, the announcement of his death? In the pub, the encounter with Rose, the bond, the barman and his remembering Ray? Ray as accident prone?

10. Abby, the steroids, running, Gerry and the training, her winning, the medals, the urine test? Her admitting the truth?

11. Gerry, talking about Frank’s presentation, Frank coming down, the display, the reaction of the officials, Frank and shock, Abby, her shame, previously asking Ray about committing suicide, her taking the pills, going to hospital?

12. Ray and his ups and downs, his leaving, the box from his father, Abby finding the letter, reading it, delivering it?

13. Ray, his new home, Rose present, the past, forgiveness, reconciliation and hope?