- Film Review
- Reviewed By Brian Pendreigh
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3 out of 5
The story of a man who loses his job and is in danger of losing all self-respect, but finds salvation in an unlikely challenge, is already familiar from Brassed Off and The Full Monty. It's a subgenre that seems to suit Scottish actors, and here Peter Mullan plays a redundant, middle-aged shipyard worker who decides to swim the English Channel, aided and encouraged by a bunch of misfits that pass for friends. A man of steely determination but few words, Mullan finds training to swim the Channel easier than communicating with his wife (Brenda Blethyn) and grown-up son (Jamie Sives), whose twin drowned in childhood. Director Gaby Dellal and writer Alex Rose can't disguise the formulaic aspects of the story, and those expecting more bawdy Full Monty-style humour will be disappointed. But the film's real strength lies in the performance of Mullan, who has bulked up and turned himself into an unlikely but convincing action hero.
Plot Summary
Drama starring Peter Mullan and Brenda Blethyn. At a low ebb after being made redundant, former Glasgow shipyard worker Frank becomes obsessed with the idea of swimming the English Channel. Although Frank's friends do everything to help him, those closer to home have mixed feelings about the venture.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Frank
- Peter Mullan
- Joan
- Brenda Blethyn
- Eddie
- Sean McGinley
- Rob
- Jamie Sives
- Danny
- Billy Boyd
- Norman
- Ron Cook
- Angela
- Jodhi May
- Chan
- Benedict Wong
- Michelle
- Anne Marie Timoney
- Observer
- Shaun Dingwall
Crew
- Director
- Gaby Dellal
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