FINDING YOUR FEET
UK, 2017, 111 minutes, Colour.
Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall, Joanna Lumley, Celia Imre, John Sessions, David Haymon, Josie Lawrence.
Directed by Richard Loncraine.
A film for the young at heart – not necessarily for those who are young only in age. It opens up the world for them that they will associate with oldies, their grandparents (and, maybe, their parents).
While older age might be a late time to be finding your feet, the film reminds us that many men and women discover that they have been stuck in life, need to make a new beginning, need to find their feet again, if not for the first time.
Finding one’s feet means discovery, the ability to use one’s feet and walk in new directions, finding balance – and, as in this entertainment, some fancy footwork in dancing.
This is a British film, very British characters and situations, enjoyable for those who spent some time in Best Marigold Hotels, familiar characters and situations, and pleasing for those who expect the expected.
A wonderful cast. Imelda Staunton plays Sandra, relishing that her husband of 35 years, former police chief (John Sessions) has now been knighted. She loves the idea of being a Lady. But, at the celebratory party, she makes a dreadful discovery, feels humiliated, denounces her husband at the party and moves out. But where is she to go? She has not seen her older sister, Elizabeth (Bif), for 10 years. Bif is played as a free spirit, full of vitality, full of charm, by Celia Imre.
In the meantime, we have been introduced to Charlie, the ever-welcome Timothy Spall. He lives on a houseboat in a London canal alongside his good friend Ted, David Heymann. Charlie does all kinds of odd jobs, especially helping out Bif. He has to help out Sandra at one stage but she is extraordinarily rude to him. Not a great start for a romance…
There is quite a deal of pathos when we discover that Charlie’s wife suffers from severe Alzheimers, is in a home that Charlie could pay for by selling their family home and his living on the houseboat. The scenes between the two, where she not only does not recognise him but rejects him, is very sad, an alert about the impact of Alzheimer’s.
Dancing has been mentioned. Bif and Charlie go to a local club, mainly for the oldies, where they are encouraged to do all kinds of dancing. Sandra, who danced when she was little, is resistant but finally… of course she joins in. Another friend at the club is one of those sophisticated English woman who has had several husbands and perhaps talks like Joanna Lumley. Actually, here she is played by Joanna Lumley.
Lots of interactions that will to entertain the target audience but maybe a bit remote and/or tedious for other audiences. Although, it should be said, that sons and daughters of older parents may well find this film well worthwhile watching and thinking about the future of their parents.
The dance group does a charity performance in the middle of London, very exhilarating. They are captured on video, put on YouTube? and receive an invitation to perform in Rome, all expenses covered. The characters are happy to go to Rome – and so, probably, will the audience.
Not all sweetness and light. Sandra is still bitter about her husband despite her urgings from her daughter and grandson. Charlie faces the terrible fact that his wife has gone from his life. Bif has some pains in her back and (we can probably guess the rest).
The target audience for this film is a solid older demographic. By and large, it is a light film, but a serious portrait of old age, and will probably be very much liked and appreciated by the demographic.
1. The demographics of the film? The target audience? Entertaining, satisfying?
2. British film, tone, situations and characters, emotional – and holding emotions in?
3. The opening, the aerial sequence, stopping at the mansion, the celebration, the contrast with the boat in the canal, Bif’s flat, the streets, the dance hall, the city performance, the London lights? The visit to Rome, scenic aspects, the performance?
4. The range of music, the score, the older songs, background, commenting on the action, their meshing for the performance? The music for the dancing?
5. The title, life, freedom, passion, seeing the world, and the metaphor of dancing?
6. The age issues, life, change, getting older, marriage, breakup, family, grandchildren, the experience of Alzheimer’s, cancer, illness and death? Choices?
7. The blend of the expected – and audience expectations satisfied with the expected?
8. Sandra’s story, turning 60, her life, memories of her mother, memories of Bif, childhood, dancing, friendship with Beth? Her pregnancy, giving up her acting career after the audition, her marriage, 35 years, becoming a Lady, her husband the police chief? The party, the friends, the celebration? Finding Pamela with her husband? The news of the affair? The public behaviour at the party? Her being humiliated, angry, leaving?
9. Bif, older than Sandra, surprised at Sandra turning up, memories of the past, their mother, the cutouts for Christmas, the variety of protests? A free spirit, not seeing Sandra for 10 years? Sandra’s arrival? Bif and her charm, the twinkle, welcoming her sister, listening to the woes, Sandra and her drinking, panic, hospital? Charlie driving them home, Sandra being rude to Charlie? Sandra cleaning and tidying the house? Bif and men, the reminiscing, the Italian story, the accident and death? Dancing, and the group, taking the old man home and his dying with a smile on his face, the funeral? Relying on Charlie? Jackie? The friendships?
10. Charlie, living on the houseboat, working with Ted, the revelation about his wife, his visits, his love, her Alzheimer’s, not recognising him, selling the house for her care, on the boat, the violence towards him, consulting the manager, her being virtually dead? Her watching the TV? News of her death, a new chance with Sandra?
11. Ted, the boat, going to the dance, crying at the song and remembering his wedding, friendship with Charlie, friendship with Jackie, a supportive character?
12. Jackie, woman about town, marriages, the Joanna Lumley style?
13. Sandra, her harshness, anger, phone calls and Michael, the outing with her daughter and grandson? Cleaning house? Drinking? Persuaded to go to the dance, meeting the group, her reluctance at first, not volunteering? Dancing with the vacuum cleaner at home? Changing her hair? Her apology to Charlie? Her enjoying the dancing, the performance? Sandra and Charlie going to see the London lights? Bif and her illness, the secret?
14. Sandra wanting to sell the house, clearing it, the visit and finding Michael and Pamela? Grinding the trophies?
15. The dance in the London Square, the crowds watching, the exhilaration, the donations? The decision to go to Rome, the invitation, expenses, the touristic sites, the hotel, Bif and her illness, Sandra late, the exhilaration, the tentative audience, the great response? Performance? Bif in the hotel, her death?
16. Michael, Sandra going back, the dancing with her grandson, Michael’s disapproval – the last straw? Her leaving?
17. Charlie inviting her to travel with him, her chasing the boat along the canals, the final symbolic leap?
