NOWHERE BOY
UK, 2009, 95 minutes, Colour.
Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott- Thomas, Anne- Marie Duff, Thomas Sangster, David Morrissey, Sam Bell.
Directed by Sam Taylor- Wood.
Nowhere Man was a popular Beatles' song. Nowhere Boy is the story of the boyhood and adolescence of John Lennon.
Probably, it depends on your interest in John Lennon's personal story as background to his music, his writings and his media personality. If it does, you may well be satisfied with the focus on 1957 when John discovers his mother, Julia, who lived not far away while he was brought up from the age of five by his mother's sister, Mimi, and her husband, George Smith. Mimi was a rather uptight and prim person (seemingly modelling herself on the young Queen Elizabeth), a complete contrast to her younger sister, a very outgoing woman who needed male company but who was rather fragile and prone to breakdown.
John was tormented by not knowing anything about his father and by his discovery of his mother and her perceived irresponsibility. What developed was something of a love-hate relationship – but, ultimately, more love than hate. Because, as he says at the end, Mimi was both parent to him and guardian (as she signed his passport application for him to go to play in Hamburg), he loved Mimi – and the film tells us that he phoned her every week until he died.
The film, made on location in Liverpool, certainly re-creates the city and its atmosphere in the 1950s. It is life in suburbia, school, fetes and their music groups and clubs. And the icon is Elvis Presley, John aping his look and swivel style. When Julia teaches him to play the guitar, he practises long and hard and then creates a band with his friends. He is introduced to the younger Paul Mc Cartney and then the young George Harrison.
Aaron Johnson gives his best to the portrayal of Lennon (though the accent wavers at times). But, the interesting drama of the film is the conflict between Julia and Mimi. Since two fine actresses take these roles, the drama is quite powerful at times. Anne Marie Duff is the good-time girl, Julia, (though, on the evidence of her boxed-in performance as Leo Tolstoy's daughter, Sacha, shows how she would have been very effective as Mimi). However, Mimi is played with her accustomed tight manner, with some warmth deep under the surface, by Kristin Scott Thomas.
Which means that, even if an audience is not attracted by Lennon's life, Nowhere Boy is a serious look at a post-war British family, its trials and the effect on a young boy. But, he did become, both in life and in death, one of the most celebrated of 20th century personalities.
1.A portrait of John Lennon as young? An ordinary human drama? A boy, parents, guardians? The effect on his upbringing? The universal interest?
2.John Lennon’s childhood, adolescence? Liverpool in the 1950s, his home, aunt and uncle, mother, school, the effect on him, the bonds? The beginnings of his career?
3.The realism of the Liverpool locations, the house and the street, his mother’s neighbourhood, school, halls and clubs? A feel for the period?
4.The musical score, the songs, the 1950s, the popularity of Elvis Presley? Paul Mc Cartney’s songs?
5.The title, The Nowhere Man? John Lennon and his identity?
6.How important was audience knowledge of John Lennon, his life, background?
7.The flashbacks, John as a young child, his parents quarrelling, his father’s absence during the war, leaving, New Zealand? The vagueness of his memories? Yet his remembering that he wanted to choose his father? The absence of his mother, the mystery, the effect of the puzzles, resentment?
8.Mimi finally telling John the story? About his father, about the other sister, her going to a home? His parents’ clash? His mother’s need for male company? Mimi taking him? Whether she stole him or not? Giving him a home and parental guardianship?
9.John at school, at home, his relationship with Mimi and her severity, his glasses…? George, more genial, the gift of the mouth organ? George’s collapse, dying? John’s thinking it was a joke, his dismay at the truth? The funeral? Glimpsing Julia? Questioning Mimi? Mimi at home, from the 1950s, her prim manner, emotions?
10.Stan, John’s cousin, explaining about Julia? Organising the visit? The bond with Julia? Her young girls? Bob, his resentment? Keeping the visits a secret from Mimi?
11.John and Peter, their friendship, at school, their mischief, on the bus stop, the principal and suspension? John and his poems, wit, sarcasm?
12.The suspension, his destroying the letter? Going to Julia’s? Julia and the visit to Blackpool, enjoying her company? Julia as a person, the men in her life, her children? Bob and his support? Her depressions, mood shifts, seeing her glum? Her breakdowns? Fears? Teaching John the guitar? Keeping the secret?
13.Mimi and the discovery of the suspension, confronting John, confronting Julia? The relationship between the two, sisters? Mimi and the years with John? The effect on Mimi?
14.Mimi and the lodger, his coming to study, working on the lawns, company for her?
15.John, the guitar, forming the band, his being in charge, selecting the group? Playing at the fete, Julia and her presence, support? The meeting with Paul? His knowledge, age, personality?
16.John’s success, the band, Julia following them around, Paul wanting to get rid of her? Julia and her being hurt?
17.Mimi, selling John’s guitar, his wanting another opportunity, getting the money from Julia?
18.His birthday celebration, Julia’s party, the song? Confronting Julia outside the house, her daughter looking on? His being miserable?
19.The contrast with Mimi and the lodger, the cake, the gift of the guitar?
20.John and Mimi, the harsh words? Issues of forgiveness?
21.Julia and Mimi, their meeting, having the cup of tea, relaxing, discussing the past? The pathos of the accident and Julia’s death?
22.The funeral, the aftermath? The passport, the visa, going to Hamburg, seeing Mimi as parent and guardian? The beginnings of John Lennon’s career?
