FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS

UK, 2019, 112 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Mays, James Purefoy, David Hayman, Sam Swainsbury, Dave Johns, Maggie Steed, Noel Clarke, Christian Brassington, Vahid Gold, Tuppence Middleton.
Directed by Chris Foggin.

There’s nothing like an old sea shanty, “Way there, and up she rises…�, “… Bound for South Australia�. And, we are treated to a succession of full-throated shanties, sung by a male choir. This is the story of the choir.

And, it is a true story. As with so many true stories these days, we are treated to photos of the actual characters during the final credits – and with some information about the men, their singing, their success, their tours, their charity fund-raising.

The setting is Cornwall – and, later in the story, when the fishermen are booked to sing the national anthem for the Queen’s Birthday, they sing their Cornwall anthem! On the south-western tip of England, home of smugglers and independent characters, Cornwall is unique.

Whether the earlier part of the plot really happened, not too sure. A group of Londoners come down for a holiday before a wedding. They are part of a recording company. Out on the sea, they have to be rescued by the fishermen and, as they go, hearing the songs in the local pub, they trick their contract agent, Daniel (Daniel Mays) into thinking he has to sign them up for a record deal. (There are some nice comeuppance grimaces at the end of the film when they realise they have failed and Daniel has succeeded!)

In fact, the fishermen, about 10 but various men moving in and out of the group, rehearse, sing in the pub, have some singsongs for the locals and for tourists. They are, actually, very good – and it is they who sing throughout the film. There are some rough diamonds in the fishermen, led by Jim (James Purefoy), his old father, who is now a great-grandfather (David Heyman in his most sprightly role), Dave Johns (who made such an impression as I Daniel Blake) and Sam Swainsbury is the younger member who owns the local pub but who has a new baby and a lot of debt and needs to sell the pub (leading to some non-choir issues when Daniel mediates and the pub is sold to a property developer), the locals not too happy at all. Maggie Steed (older audiences remember her on TV in Pie in the Sky) is the matriarch working in the pub.

Daniel does his best, recording out in the open but disturbed by the seagulls, one of which is shot down by flare, a bit like the Ancient Mariner’s albatross. They do better in the church with its fine acoustics and out goes the record album to the companies. Daniel in the meantime, falls in love with Jim’s daughter and her daughter – not so nice a man at the beginning but transformed by his fishermen’s experience.

There is an enjoyable visit to London, an impromptu audition, singing at a highfalutin wedding with the guests taken aback, the episode with singing the Cornwall anthem. And, these days, what does it! Youtube of course, millions of hits – and who, in the business, can resist this kind of popularity? Happy to say that the hotel issue is solved by Daniel’s self-sacrifice, the album breaks into the Top 40 at ninth place and Bob’s your uncle!

Not only a feelgood film, a look-good film, and a fine sound-good film.

1. A true story? The photos during the credits? The songs from the group in the soundtrack?

2. A story of Cornwall, vigorous citizens of Cornwall, the visuals, the town, the water, the shore, the cliffs? Homes? The pub? The church? Atmosphere? The contrast with London, streets and traffic, the pubs, the studios, flats?

3. Sea shanties, the range of songs, the arrangement, the men and their voices?

4. The town, the community, friendships, the pub as centre, the singing, the men themselves, for the public, their work as fisherman, out on the boats, the rescue work? The range of men, the ages, characters, gruff, humour?

5. Troy and his friends, coming to Cornwall, arrogant attitudes, preparation for the wedding, going into the water, the need for rescue? Tricking Dan? His believing them? The phone calls? The hostility of Troy and his company against the men? Yet the singing at the wedding, people’s shocked reaction? The father in law and the deal with selling the pub? Business, trends, ruthlessness, rivalries?

6. Daniel, character, manager, contracts, believing his friends, leaving him stranded? The one-way street, the confrontation with Alwyn? His attraction to her?

7. Rohan, the pub, wife and child, the need for money, the explanation of the origins of the pub in the past, the pub and the workers, Maggie a strong presence, the customers, the drinking, the Trivial Pursuit games, fights?

8. Daniel and his change, the bed-and-breakfast, the continued to attraction to Alwyn, comfortable with her daughter?

9. The men, Jim as leader, with Alwyn, granddaughter? Jago, cheerful, rough, great grandfather? The other members of the group? The public singing?

10. Daniel, not so nice, the possibility of the contract, giving his word, the humour of the wake-up call and his going out on the boat, being sick? Jim agreeing? The hopes?

11. The recording session, in the open, the gulls and the dead gull, the curse, going to the church, the acoustics, success, sending the album to the agents?

12. The wedding, their being booked, singing, the reaction of the guests?

13. Going to London, the bus, the pub crawl, stranding Daniel, going to the audition, the reaction of the people in the office, Leah and her refusal, the reasons, the rivalry with Troy and his company? Disappointment? The girl from the office, suggesting they sing the anthem for the Queen’s Birthday?

14. Singing, television, the Cornwall anthem, reactions, Youtube, the number of hits, Leah and her phone call, Troy and his being upset?

15. Jago, his death, the sadness of the funeral, on the boat commemorating him?

16. Daniel, the bond with Alwyn, with her daughter, Jim and his suspicions? The night together? Living together?

17. The issue of the sale of the pub, Jim not knowing, Rohan telling the truth, Jim and his anger, Alwyn blaming Daniel, cutting him off?

18. His visit to London, sacrificing his flat, buying the pub, his return? The gradual acceptance?

19. Listening to the news, the top 40, the fishermen coming in ninth? The reconciliation? In the car going out to sea…?

20. The credits, the story of the men and their success, tours, charity work? A feelgood experience?