Themes: Underdogs, Fathers and Sons, Down on Their Luck
Main Cast: Peter Mullan, Brenda Blethyn, Sean McGinley, Jamie Sives, Billy Boyd
Release Year: 2005
Country: UK
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A middle-aged man gives himself the challenge of a lifetime in this comedy drama from the U.K. Frank (Peter Mullan) has spent most of his 55 years working the same job in the shipyards of Glasgow until he's fired after business tapers off and technology makes his position unnecessary. While Frank tries to put on a brave face, he has no idea of what to do next or what sort of work he should find. Frank's embarrassment gets much worse when he applies for unemployment benefits, only to discover his sister-in-law Angela (Jodhi May) is working behind the corner. As Frank's anxiety grows worse, he begins having panic attacks, leading to sympathy from his wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn), and son, Rob (Jamie Sives), which only makes him feel more humiliated. One of Frank's few respites from his troubles are his regular visits to a nearby community swimming pool, where he does laps with his pals Eddie (Sean McGinley), Norman (Ron Cook), and Danny (Billy Boyd). One day, one of them jokes about the possibility of swimming the English Channel, which is only 21 miles across at its narrowest point near Dover. However, Frank doesn't think the idea is so silly, and begins training to make the journey; while at first his family and friends think he's gone mad, his plans give him a drive and a sense of purpose he hasn't had since losing his job. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
On a clear day, it would be easy to recognize this swimming-the-English-Channel movie as just the latest high-concept descendant of The Full Monty, in which whimsical Brits gear themselves toward unlikely goals. But with the gruffly depressive Peter Mullan setting the tone as the prospective swimmer, the film's identity becomes hazier, more closely resembling an original creation than it might otherwise. On a Clear Day is a warm enough little diversion despite not really covering any new territory, other than the endeavor itself, which hasn't had many trips under the cinematic microscope (and doesn't get much of an in-depth probing here, either). Despite the fact that his character is supposed to be in his fifties, Mullan sure looks fierce enough and fit enough to complete the 21-mile crossing. The demons he wrestles with -- both the drowning of his son and his layoff from a lifelong career -- fit in well with an emotionally strained family structure, which also features Brenda Blethyn as his stoical wife. Where On a Clear Day seems to betray itself is where it tries to be more, rather than less, like The Full Monty. For example, Billy Boyd's supporting character exists entirely for the purpose of shoehorning in comic relief. If he isn't talking a big game or running a motorboat aground, he's flailing around in the water from having swum too soon after eating. While the mere presence of the former hobbit is welcome on its own terms, he doesn't exactly work with the rest of the movie. Still, most of what director Gaby Dellal and screenwriter Alex Rose put onscreen does work, which makes On a Clear Day easy enough to behold. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Ron Cook - Norman; Jodhi May - Angela; Benedict Wong - Chan; Anne Marie Timoney - Michelle; Shaun Dingwall - Observer; Tony Roper - Merv The Perv; Paul Ritter - Mad Bob
Credit
Caroline Grebbell - Art Director, Amy Lo - Associate Producer, Gail Stevens - Casting, Martha Coleman - Co-producer, Kate Hawley - Costume Designer, Martin Harrison - First Assistant Director, Gaby Dellal - Director, Robin Sales - Editor, Lenny Crooks - Executive Producer, Steve Christian - Executive Producer, Emma Hayter - Executive Producer, Bill Allan - Executive Producer, Andy Mayson - Executive Producer, Nick Hill - Executive Producer, Stephen Warbeck - Composer (Music Score), Mark Leese - Production Designer, David Johnson - Cinematographer, Dorothy Berwin - Producer, Sarah Curtis - Producer, Peter Brill - Sound/Sound Designer, Alex Rose - Screenwriter
On a Clear Day is a 2005 British drama film written by Alex Rose and directed by Gaby Dellal. It stars Peter Mullan as Frank Redmond, a labourer in the shipyards on the River Clyde, who becomes stagnant and quickly sinks into depression. A naturally strong swimmer, Frank gets an idea while on a 'booze cruise' with his friends to swim the English Channel. Featuring an ensemble cast, it co-stars Brenda Blethyn, Sean McGinley and Billy Boyd, among others.
The story is set in present day Glasgow, Scotland near the banks of the River Clyde. Frank Redmond (played by Peter Mullan) and a few of his co-workers are laid off from the shipyards after 36 years service. This, along with his grief still suffered over the loss of one of his sons many years ago, plummets Frank into a deep depression. He gets on well with his wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn); however, their relationship is distant. His son, Rob (Jamie Sives), is a devoted house husband who looks after his twin sons, while his wife, Angela (Jodhi May) works full time at the local Jobcentre.
After a violent panic attack, Frank realises that he needs some focus in his life, and, after a booze cruise along the English Channel, decides to focus his efforts on swimming across it. Frank trains with the help of friend and local chip shop owner Chan (Benedict Wong) and former co-workers Danny (Billy Boyd), Eddie (Sean McGinley) and Norman (Ron Cook) until he feels he is fit and ready for the attempt.
