GUNRUSH

UK, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Spall, Deborah Findlay, Jacob Anderson.
Directed by Richard Clark.

Gunrush is a made-for-television film, topical in the United Kingdom, especially in London.

While it shows an ordinary family, their loves and their squabbles, it suddenly jolts the emotions when the daughter of the family is shot in a supermarket queue. The father, very well played by Timothy Spall, is a rather meek and kind man, a driving instructor who generally steps back for people. He is dumbfounded, is unable to deal well with his daughter’s death, tries to do something himself, tries to track down the assailants as well as their gun. His wife, a strong character who blames herself for the death and her intervening in the queue, is played by Deborah Findlay. Jacob Anderson plays Leo, the young man with problems who shoots the girl in a moment of pique.

The film is topical in terms of murders in London, random violence, race issues of black and white. It also shows the life of young men in the various neighbourhoods, the pressures from their peers, drug deals, angers.

The film works very well as drama as well as raising the issues and getting audiences to identify emotionally with the plight of the family, especially the father.

1.A topical film, the United Kingdom, London? World issues? Urban issues?

2.The title, the explanation of the feeling of shooting, Leo and his shooting Emma, the effect on him? Guns, Doug and the information about guns, calibre, bullets? The dealers and their selling guns? Doug, the experience of the gun, holding it, heavy? The instrument for death – but depending on the attitude of the person holding the gun?

3.London, the driving instructor, the streets and traffic, the supermarket, homes, police precincts?

4.The contrast with London and the apartment blocks, underneath the blocks in the darkness, the clubs, the racial segregation, atmosphere?

5.The introduction to Doug, Timothy Spall and his presence, age, teaching his daughter, her irritation in learning, his being a nice man, letting people through, his relationship with his wife, the younger daughter? The cello? The people pushing in at the supermarket, his touching Leo – and the results?

6.The situation in the shop, the girls and the shopping, Doug carrying the cello for his daughter, lining up to pay, in a hurry, the wife having to go to work, her having bickered with her daughter, the mutual expression of saying they hated each other? The quick happening of the event, the effect, Doug stunned, the ambulance, the hospital, the death of their daughter, the grief?

7.The information about the two young men, their friendship, tensions, with guns, the bosses in the region, the dealers, jobs and deliveries, the use of guns, money and trying to defraud others? Leo, mother, home? His promises? The two men as brothers, the effect of their friendship, the deal, Leo being shot?

8.The police, the information, Susie assigned to look after the family? Her saying that they had to wait? At their home? Jill and her anger? Susie explaining the bullet, Doug taking it? The information, the consequences? Trouble for Susie, the phone call, getting Robbie to intervene, his discussions with Doug? The family, prejudices about the police? Talking things over, Doug and his persuading Robbie to find a contact?

9.Doug in himself, his reaction to the shooting? His love for Emma, not being able to deal with the funeral? Millie, his going onto the computer, the information about guns, using Emma’s computer? Not telling his wife? The discussions with Susie, the contact, the money for the guide, used for drugs? The dealer and the guns?

10.At home, Jill blaming herself, the response of Millie? The meal for her family?

11.Doug, in the neighbourhood, seeing the two young men, the identification with the tattoo of the smile? His being pushed away?

12.Doug and the information about the gun, going out in the night, the confrontation with the two boys, the gun, their being shot? His inability to shoot?

13.London issues with violence in the streets, minorities, unemployment, drugs, violence, weapons? The role of the media?

14.Race issues, employment issues, poverty issues?

15.Audience understanding, the characters, empathy for the victims?