Jean Dwight (Brenda Blethyn) could have been a big, big star if she hadn’t met her husband, one hit wonder John Maitland played by Frankie J Holden, moved to Australia from the UK and had two kids.
Jean and John both believe that their big comebacks are just around the corner"¦ but time is running out for Jean. Her boys are growing up and this frightens the life out of her.
Her disabled son Mark (Richard Wilson) is experiencing the first flush of love and 21 year old Tim (Khan Chittenden) has taken up with the strong willed, sassy Jill (Emma Booth).
Jean is not only determined to get her Club career back on track but will pull out all stops to keep her boys close.
Clubland is centred on the moment in a young man’s life when his mother is no longer as important as the girl next door.
With this film, Director Cherie Nolan gives us a tender wonderful experience. Her direction is subtle and non intrusive, allowing us to view and enjoy the characters and their world rather than judge them.
She has beautifully underpinned the comedy with heartfelt and very real performances. In fact everything about 'Clubland" is honest and real, it never gives way to parody and I think that has a lot to do with Nolan’s sensibility as a director and Keith Thompson’s wonderful script.
Thompson penned the screenplay for Blethyn based on his childhood. His mother had a dance band in England not far from Blethyn’s home town and Thompson grew up in clubs watching his mother perform. His script is raw and authentic and so moving.
Mark Wareham’s pared back photography is fabulous allowing the characters’ warmth to shine through without ever being over shadowed by trickery. I loved the fact that visually the film came to life at night but daylight scenes really reflected the drabness of their worlds.
The performances are all glorious! Richard Wilson as the brain damaged Mark and Khan Chittenden as the shy Tim are so great in what are very difficult roles to pull off. Frankie J. Holden is a revelation as John and Emma Booth is fabulous as the feisty Jill, who very much holds her own opposite Blethyn.
However this is Brenda Blethyn’s film. Her Jean is at its emotional heart. For the film to work, we so need to love her, and love her I did.
Here is a woman who is so scared of ageing, being alone and not being noticed that as the film unravels so does Jean. Her performance is vulnerable and heartbreaking.
It is the beautifully realised relationships, the wonderful direction and soulful performances that make this film so special.
It’s a film that should appeal to all and I’m giving it 4 stars.
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