ADULT LIFE SKILLS
UK, 2016, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jodie Whittaker, Lorraine Ashbourne, Brett Goldstein, Eileen Davies, Rachel Deering, Edward Hogg Ozzy Myers.
Directed by Rachel Tunnard.
This film could be something of an acquired taste. It is a film about several generation of women – with some men and a boy character included.
Jodie Whitaker (who was to achieve success in television with Dr Who) is a 30 something who cannot settle down in life, lives an erratic daily existence, helping with some jobs, making videos about meaning in life, working with children, living in a shared owned by her mother, her grandmother also living in the main house.
She does not seem to have adult life skills, continually clashes with her mother, goes to visit prospective houses but rejects them, is interested in the estate agent, Brendan, with whom she grew up and assumed was gay. However, he has always been attracted to her.
The other main character is a little boys whose is in hospital at whom she cares for, playing games, becoming to some awareness of responsibilities.
1. The title? The irony is? Anna and her problems, her markers and rewards? Probing the meaning of life, her videos? Final achievement?
2. The countryside setting, the houses, the sheds, the river, the town, the shops? The British setting? The musical score?
3. Anna’s story, the opening and the thumbs with the eyes and mouth is, the repetition of this imagery in different ways, the thumbs and their dialogue, interactions and the meaning of life? Symbolic of Anna? Her age, approaching 30? Her past, memories of Brendan, his arrival back in the town? The image of the snorkeller and her conversations with him? Living in the hut, her mother’s disapproval, wanting her out? Her grandmother’s house and the caustic remarks of the grandmother? Her sister, friendship, the return, working together? Her disordered life, getting up, dressing, washing in the microwave, cycling, opening the store, the various contacts, the children and the group work? Her arguments with her mother? Not wanting to find a fiancee?
4. Marian, in her mother’s house, the character of her mother, strong remarks, criticisms? Marian and Anna, their arguments, wanted her daughter to achieve something, get out of the shed? The interactions?
5. The sister, her return, the conversations, support?
6. Brendan, the past, people assuming he was gay, his protests? Anna and Marian going to survey houses, his being the agent? His discussions with Anna, explaining himself, the attraction to her? Confidences? Possible future?
7. The snorkeller, appearing, her conversations, his vanishing?
8. Clint, his mother in hospital, the cancer, Marian looking after him, the friendship with Anna, the games with him, the make-believe? Her relating well to him, his changing her?
9. A film for 20 somethings who are still trying to make decisions about their life? A film for audiences like Marian who are concerned about their adult children?
