A BUMP ALONG THE WAY

UK, 2019, 95 minutes, Colour.

Bronagh Gallagher, Lola Petticrew, Mary Moulds, Dan Gordon, Andy Doherty.

Directed by Shelley Love.

A cheerful film from Northern Ireland.

This is a story of Pamela, played exuberantly by Bronagh Gallagher, aged 44, a broken marriage, living with her daughter, Allegra, working at a bakery. After some drinking, she has a passionate evening with a younger man in the back of a car. She is not worried about unprotected sex because it been told after the birth of Allegra that she cannot have any more children.

But, she could, and does, conceive.

A blend of comedy and seriousness in her facing the reality of motherhood in her 40s, a reliance on her close friend, confidante, but also problems with her daughter, midteens, critical of her mother at times, initially upset about the pregnancy, especially as news gets around the school, but eventually coming to terms, and eager for the baby.

There is a scene with the ex-husband, unsympathetic. There is a confrontation with the father and his hostile attitude.

In the Allegra part of the story, there is school, classes, her being bullied, a sympathetic teacher, her infatuation with a boy, neglecting a close friend, some drinking, sickness, and great embarrassment.

However, this is a happy film, some reconciliation is, the baby, and reconciliations all round.

1. The title, tone, pregnancy, comic, serious?
2. The Northern Ireland setting, characters, accents? The town, homes, school,, hospital, surgeries? Musical score?
3. Pamela’s story, aged 44, the initial encounter with Barry, her drinking, sex, unprotected, not fearing pregnancy, broken marriage, relationship with the ex-husband and his visits, Allegra as her daughter, age, managing by herself, in the shop, the customers, Richard with Michael and his support? At home, tensions with Allegra? Health, discovery she was pregnant, reaction, her reliance on Sinead as her friend and confidante? The doctor, the pregnancy, previous advice? Attitude, keeping the baby, others suggesting abortion, a mother at 44?
4. Her going to see Barry, his negative reaction, his mother, ousting her? Her later decision to return and confront him?
5. Allegra, her name, her friends, bullied at school, the class and her response to the teacher, his concern? Her friend, their being together, her infatuation with the boy, his ignoring her, then his talking to her, collecting her friend, the separation? Her mixing with the other girls? Her birthday, our with boys and friends, the drinking, infatuation, the boy’s girlfriend and her reaction? Her lying to another? The story about her mother’s pregnancy and her reaction? At home, hostile?
6. Allegra and her gradual mellowing, love for her mother, concerned about the baby?
7. Pamela going to the scan, the decision to know, about the name of the boy? The photos of the scan – and her having Allegra’s?
8. The visit her ex-husband, the tension, clash?
9. The birth, the joy?
10. The happy reconciliation, friendships, happy ending?