FAINTHEART

UK, 2008, 84 minutes, Colour.
Eddie Marsan, Jessica Hynes, Ewen Bremner, Paul Nicholls, Anne Reid, Bronagh Gallagher.
Directed by Vito Rocco.

When one is not quite sure what to say about a brief film that offers an oddball view of human nature and human behaviour, one relies on the description, 'a quirky little film'. And that is quite appropriate for Faintheart. It runs for under 90 minutes, is set in a contemporary English village, has humorous touches as well as some serious themes treated in a comic way. It stars that very versatile British character actor, Eddie Marsan (Happy Go Lucky, Sixty Six, Pierrepoint) with Ewan Bremner and Jessica Hynes.

The opening momentarily takes us aback as a medieval battle begins – then a mobile phone rings and Richard (Marsan) has to run to his car to hurry to a funeral. A mood is set. His wife is not at all happy with Richard and wants a separation.

The trouble is that Richard and his mates have never quite grown up and like to get together to re-create Viking battles. Richard does not want a separation and does his best to reconcile (which is a bit difficult because his wife has taken up with the phys ed teacher (Paul Nichols) and his bullied son is ashamed of him). He has a dead end job and a sneering boss.

But, if you keep the title in mind and remember your Gilbert and Sullivan, you know that faint heart never won fair lady. So Richard has to change his attitudes and his life and fight for his family.

It is all quite slight but offers a slice of British complicated life.

1.A quirky British comedy? Serious?

2.The title, Gilbert and Sullivan: Faint heart never won fair lady? Richard and his pursuit of Kath? Nick and Kim’s mother?

3.The prologue, the set-up of the Vikings and the battles, audience expectations? Names and dates? The mobile phone going off, the car, Richard and his driving to the funeral? Arriving late, in the Viking gear, Kath and her being upset?

4.The English tone, the castle, the Viking sports, homes, school, ovals, the restaurants? Authentic? The musical score?

5.Richard’s story: the introduction to Richard in the re-enactments, his age? His marriage to Kath? Going to the funeral? His being ousted? Disbelieving? Pleading? His relationship with Martin, taking him to the re-enactments? Martin being ashamed? His dead-end job, the boss, his friends, the re-creation of games at work, the boss’s threats? His later wanting overtime? Nick and his bunking with him? His being upset, his wanting to woo Kath again, the visits, her rejecting him? His recreating the first time, the restaurant, the band, the music? The failure? Gary and the confrontation? His being late for the play? The re-enactments? Going to his father-in-law’s grave, talking to him, his mother-in-law and her listening, her wise advice? Martin and his being bullied, going with Kath to the principal, standing up to the principal? Self-assertion? Getting the haircut, becoming normal, the confrontation with his boss? Throwing away the sword – and later searching for it on the tip? Martin wanting a final battle? Martin and his pride? Kath and the reuniting?

6.Martin, his age, his relationship with his father, bullied at school? Gary and the advice at school, the self-defence lessons? Ashamed of his father? The girl, the drawing, liking her, going in to the play, the outings with her? Excalibur and the play? His father not being there? His being humiliated in front of the kids? Talking to his father? The end and his pride?

7.The girl, in class, eccentric, the play, liking Martin, out with him, the kiss? Liking the re-enactments?

8.Nick, his age, living with his mother? The re-enactments? At the shop, his love for Star Trek? The computer dating, Kim – and his being a boy, out, the boy eating a lot, his mother coming to rescue him? Her coming to the shop, talking about Star Trek, going out, the flashy restaurant and leaving, the discussions, the Klingon talk, sharing – and romance?

9.Kath, exasperated, ousting Richard, her love for Martin? Taking up with Gary? Talking to Richard, going to the restaurant, the failure of the date? Going to the principal? Appreciating Richard’s change?

10.Gary, slick, his reputation as a womaniser, his advice to Martin, the self-defence lessons, moving in, the clashes with Richard?

11.Richard’s friends, their jobs in the town, their lives focused on the Vikings, their expertise and knowledge?

12.The themes of growing up, responsibility, relationships, fathering, being a husband, change?