THE DEBT COLLECTOR
UK, 1999, 100 minutes, Colour.
Billy Connolly, Ken Stott, Francesca Annis, Iain Robertson, Annette Crosbie.
Directed by Anthony Neilson.
The Debt Collector is a star vehicle for Billy Connolly. However, it is not a comedy. Nevertheless, Billy Connolly is able to bring his persona, his Scots manner, even his language, to this very serious role.
The film is a portrait of a former criminal, based loosely on a Scots criminal called Jimmy Boyle. A debt collector, with vicious enforcement policy, harming a debtor’s relatives instead of the debtor him or herself. After he is arrested by a persistent policeman, Gary Keltie, played with his usual sinister presence (The Mighty Celt, Plunkett and Macleane), he is released from prison after serving his sentence. In prison, he became a sculptor and is having his first exhibition. He has married a sympathetic journalist, played by Francesca Annis.
The film focuses on the short period after Dryden’s release, with the ever-growing obsessive Keltie. He interrupts the art exhibition to denounce Dryden as a criminal and speak about his victims. At a later function, he brings in relations of victims. Dryden tries to cope, especially after his stepson is murdered. Keltie lives with his mother, Annette Crosbie, and becomes obsessed with Val Dryden as well as with the criminal. There is a violent build-up with death and rape.
There is a subplot with a young man who emulates the arch-criminal and who becomes involved in actions of vengeance. He is played by Iain Robertson.
The film is very well made, the screenplay puts both sides of the argument about vindictive punishment for brutal killers as well as the possibilities for society to forgive and rehabilitate. The ending is quite ambiguous.
The film is definitely worth seeing both for the outstanding performances by Connolly and Stott.
1.The impact of the film? A film about criminals? About police? About obsessions and persistence? About the possibilities of change and rehabilitation – or not?
2.The title, the reference to Nickie Dryden’s career, the Policy of harming relatives (and Val interrogating her husband about what this means), Flipper and his using the principle of the Policy to harm Keltie’s mother?
3.The Scottish settings (Edinburgh with Glasgow buildings standing in)? The authentic atmosphere of Scotland, of the Scots city, the homes, wealth, the art galleries, police centres, the streets? The musical score?
4.The opening and the confrontation between Dryden and Keltie, Keltie setting up a sting, Dryden falling for it, Keltie arresting him? The beginnings of the feud between the two? (And the overtones of Inspector Javert from Les Miserables in the relentless pursuit of the criminal?)
5.Nicki Dryden, his release from prison, his having married Val? The disapproval of her parents? His sculptures, the opening, society? Keltie’s arrival, his denunciation of Dryden? The sobering words, the reaction of the people?
6.Nicki Dryden, Billy Connolly’s presence, verbal style, a serious role, yet his comic flair? The intensity of his marriage? His giving up the past? The intrusions of Keltie, their encounters, coming to the house, taking vigil outside the house? Pressurising Val? His reaction? The wedding, his in-laws’ hostility? His sister-in-law welcoming him? The arrival of Keltie with the group of victims? Disrupting the wedding? Dryden and his reactions, the intensity of his relationship with Val, the meals, her interrogating him about the Policy? At home? His decision to do something about it, calling on his old friends? His meetings with Flipper, Flipper and his admiration, in the gallery, the sculpture of the fish? Meeting Flipper after Flipper had attacked Keltie’s mother? Dryden’s anger, his beating him? Setting him up in the street after bashing him? His going to the military tattoo, uncomfortable? Meeting Keltie in the street, Keltie’s experience with Val? The fight between the two, the knives, the fight, Keltie’s death? The vindication of Dryden, his going free, the press? Reunited with Val? A portrait of a criminal? The justice issues, serving a prison sentence, rehabilitation? Success? Or had the criminal really changed?
7.The portrait of Keltie, the loner, living with his mother, discussions with her, her rubbishing his girlfriends, her pretending that Val was his girlfriend with her photo? His work, his explanation of his relentless pursuit on behalf of people to apprehend criminals? The initial arrest of Dryden? The years passing, Dryden getting out, his anger at the art exhibition? At the police station, single-minded and obsessive, the other police? His keeping watch outside the house, the clashes with Val? His interactions with Dryden? Their arguments? His disrupting the wedding, bringing the group of victims? The final obsession, going to Val, the sexual obsession, his assault? His meeting Dryden in the street, the anger, the knife, stabbing him, the fight and his death?
8.Val, as a journalist, her reasons for marrying Nicki? The marriage, her parents’ disapproval, her sister supporting her? The wedding? Her articles, interrogating Nicki, the Policy? Her being wary of Keltie and his being outside, his finally coming into the house, her fears, trying to phone, the assault? The effect on her – and her future?
9.Flipper, young man, his brutality towards the couple on the street, bashing the woman, taking the money? His gang? At the swimming pool, the assault on the guard? His going to the exhibition, meeting Dryden, admiring him, talking about the sculpture? Feeling that Dryden could read his mind? His going to Dryden’s contact, getting the commission to hurt Keltie, his applying the Policy, bashing his mother? His pride, the chance meeting with Nicki, Nicki bashing him?
10.The background of Scots criminals, debt collectors, the violence in this ethos? The background of the police and their work? The background of the art world, journalists?
11.How satisfying an exploration of a criminal character?
