23 WALKS
UK, 2020, 95 minutes, Colour.
Dave Johns, Alison Steadman.
Directed by Paul Morrison.
Mostly on Hampstead Heath. And with dogs.
This is a very entertaining outing for those of us who are not as young as we used to be. And, it is entertaining for those who don’t want a lot of violent action up there on the screen, or on the small screen either, but are happy to keep company with with two likeable characters, share their lives, enjoy their happiness, be upset at their griefs, live in hope, at least, for a happy ever after.
And our two characters and Dave and Fern. Each of them lives alone although they have adult children, Dave with grandchildren. And each of them has a dog, Dave has Tilly. Fern has Harry. They all live in London, Dave in a housing estate but he is threatened with having to move away to Luton. Fern lives in the house co-owned with her former husband, who wants the house to go on sale, she expecting to have to find a small flat.
Any walk on Hampstead Heath, in fine London weather, the grass, the trees, the paths, the view towards the city is always attractive. (There are several further walks out in countryside settings.)
Not that the first meeting is auspicious – at all. While Tilly and Harry make instant connection, Fern is rather grumpy about the dogs tangling, ticking Dave off. But, as frequently happens (we hope) in real life, the continued encounters move from gruff, to polite acknowledgement, to the exchange of a few words, to longer conversations, to a developing friendship. And the screenplay, by Paul Morrison (who is who comparatively few films: 1999, Solomon and Gaynor with dialogue in English, Welsh and Yiddish; a delightful film about cricket, Wondrous Oblivion, 2003; a story about Federico Garcia Lorca, Luis Bunuel, and Salvador Dali with Robert Pattinson of the artist, Little Ashes, 2008) sounds just right.
But, of course, how we respond relies very strongly on the performers. Dave Johns is a comic performer in England, sometimes in films, but who made an extraordinary impact as Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake – and in this one too he has some difficult interactions with bureaucracies. Alison Steadman has had a long career as a character actress in film and television. Dave Johns is the gentle a character. Alison Steadman is the stronger character, more hurt by life. Although, we discover that Dave has a secret that he should have revealed earlier, a secret that shows his tenderness, but also his deep need for some friendship and love.
Which means that what might seem on paper to be rather sentimental, has a great deal of warm sentiment but some tough realities, Dave and the memories of his wife, the demands from his daughter, delighting in his grandchildren. Fern has a sadness with her son, reformed addict, but enjoys learning some Spanish before she goes to her daughter’s wedding in the Canary Islands.
The couple work with each other so well, show how friendship actually works and, step-by-step, leads to the possibilities of love and intimacy.
As mentioned, this is a story for the older audience – but it won’t hurt a younger audience to see it and appreciate what life has meant, now means for the older generations.
1. An entertaining friendship film, for older audiences? (For younger audiences to learn?)
2. The title? The listing of the walks? Hampstead Heath? The park, the grass, shrubs and trees, the views of London? Other walks in the countryside? The musical score?
3. Dave out on his walk, with Tilly? The tangle with Harry? Fern and her reaction? Her telling Dave off? The second walk, the gruff response from Fern? The continued walks, exchange of words, politeness, talking, sharing, liking, friendship? The credible development of a friendship?
4. Dave, the genial presence of Dave Johns, his age, living alone, his having to move to Luton, the discussions with the bureaucrats? His not telling Fern the truth about his wife? His daughter, the grandchildren, his looking after them? The photo of his wife? Mixed race? His going to see Marcy, her nonresponse? The daughter popping in and out, matter-of-fact? His telling Fern that his wife was dead? The consequences of his lying? For himself? For Fern?
5. Fern, her background, show business, singing and dancing, her first marriage, the death of the daughter, the picture on the wall? Her son, his addiction? Her daughter, in the Canary Islands, the invitation to the wedding? Her learning Spanish? Dave teaching her, the conversations? Her former husband, his infidelity with his secretary, arriving to pick up his tools, his gruff manner? His wanting to sell the house? Fern having to buy a flat?
6. The bond with two dogs, the focus on the dogs, their friendship, Tilly becoming ill, Fern coming, talking, Tilly reviving? Tilly eventually dying? Fern sharing the grief with Dave?
7. The growth of the friendship, the sharing of meals, the visits, the dancing, reticence in expressing friendship, timing, the possibility of a relationship? The grandchildren seeing Fern and liking her? The outing? Dave’s daughter and her hostile response? Defence of her mother?
8. Dave telling the truth, after the intimacy, the effect on Fern? Breaking off? The difficulties with phone calls? Fern and her loneliness, the house sold, buying the flat? Dave, his having to move?
9. The sensitivity of the screenplay, Dave and his regrets, wanting love, reaching out to Fern, apologising? Her reaction to him? Her regrets? Upset? Dave seeing her with the man on Hampstead Heath? Her brother and the cancer diagnosis?
10. Gradual reconciliation, the willingness on either part, sharing the bed, reticence and reserve? The final episode, the sexual encounter, the willingness of each?
11. Each growing in some kind of independence, but inter-dependence with each other? The future?
