WHO GETS THE DOG

UK, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Whately, Alison Steadman, Emma Pierson, Stephen Mangan, Sinead Matthews, Luke Mably.
Directed by Nicholas Renton.

Who Gets the Dog was written by Guy Hibbert, a writer of such programs as Prime Suspect 4 as well as the drama on the killings in Northern Ireland, Omagh. It was directed by Nicholas Renton who also did a television version of A Room with a View.

The film focuses on a couple who have been married for twenty-seven years but who have fallen out of love and bicker constantly. They are played very effectively by Kevin Whately (best known for Lewis in the Inspector Morse series) and Alison Steadman. Sinead Matthews portrays their daughter Claire, focusing on herself and what she is suffering with the break-up of her parents.

While they are warned not to go to solicitors, they do. The solicitors are the target of the film’s screenplay, flirting with each other, making bets, getting more and more money on their accounts, delegating their work to others, who couldn’t care less (in a very striking scene where opposing barristers travel to London in a train, chatting socially and not bothering to read the brief).

There is some sympathy for the couple, although their shouting matches are strident. However, when they finally get before the judge, when the barristers attack the wife, the husband can take no more and defends his wife.

There is a twist at the end when the daughter flirts with the solicitor, taping his story about how he wheedled money out of the couple – and publishes it in the paper, leading to the literal eviction of the wife’s solicitor, carried bodily from her office, and the dismissal of the garrulous lawyer.

The film is strong in its presentation of the breakdown of a marriage – but even stronger in its presentation of cynical solicitors – and their comeuppance.

1.A television drama? For the home audience? For older audiences? Younger audiences? The response of men? The response of women?

2.The British setting, the town, homes, solicitors’ offices, bars? Authentic feel? Musical score?

3.The title, the factual background of the dog and the discussion about who gets it? The irony of this question as exposing the double values and the cynicism of the solicitors?

4.The introduction to Jack and Jenny, their strident quarrels? Claire overhearing them? The recriminations, Jenny’s past affair, Jack’s relationship? His not wanting to give up the relationship? Seeing each of them at work, Jenny as a nurse, the birth and her help with the mother, the gratitude of the father? Her working at the hospital, for births and terminations? Her friend, her poisonous advice about divorce, solicitors? The contrast with Jack, his work as a probation officer, the insolent young man that he was working with? A portrait of real people in a difficult situation? Claire coming home, their putting on a good face, their difficulties? Claire’s outburst?

5.Claire, her age, away studying, her friends, the return home, overhearing the quarrel, coming back in, the meal, her accusations against her parents? Her not answering her phone? Her anger with her father, telling him to stop calling her name? Her anger with her mother? The attempted return home, the further clashes? The department store and her mother strongly telling her off, highlighting her selfishness? Claire and the surprise twist in the plot, going to the bar, meeting Steve, taping him, writing the article and the expose? The reconciliation with her parents?

6.Jenny and her going to the solicitor, the senior woman and getting the facts, the account, costs? Her talking with Tara, her tears, expressing herself, her depression, her life, love for her husband, her infidelity? Her depression? Tara and her being young, smart, impersonal, putting on a face, feigning sympathy? Charges? Dictating her letter? Going to lunch? The party and her meeting Steve? The flirting, the discussions, the bets? Delegating her work? In the presence of the judge, her not taking her work seriously, her ambition?

7.Steve, his boredom in listening to Jack, despising him? The advice? The charges? The questions, getting things from his wife, the issue of the dog, between Steve and Tara? Claire’s intervention with the dog?

8.Jack, his friend Pam, with her, support, discussions?

9.The two young barristers, in the train, chatting, sport, neglecting to read the brief, encountering the couple, getting the names wrong? Hugo and his performance before the judge, his attacking Jenny, forcing her into admissions, her tears? Jack’s disgust? Walking out?

10.A glimpse of marriage problems, the possibilities of saving the marriage, counselling, reconciliation? The importance of relationships?

11.The expose of solicitors, young and ambitious, impersonal, greedy? Their comeuppance?