Starring: Peter Mullan and Brenda Blethyn
Director: Gaby Dellal
Rated: PG
Days are not always clear in Glasgow. In fact, On a Clear Day begins with two very sad days for Frank (Peter Mullan).
The first is his memory of the day when one of his twin sons was drowned as a young boy. The grief has stayed with him and, without his always realising it, he has blamed himself.
But he has also unwittingly blamed his surviving son and this has alienated the two of them.
The second day is a day of celebration at the Glasgow docks as a new ship is launched. (The producers were allowed to film an actual launch which adds to the impact of the sequence.)
However, for Frank, it is a harrowing day. He has been sacked. He cannot bring himself even to watch the launch. Instead he sees a colleague injuring his hand to get more compensation.
Fortunately, at home he has a loving wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn), although she cannot bring herself to tell Frank that she is going for her bus driving licence (nor about her test failures).
The film raises the question, so relevant and heart-rending in recent decades: What is a retrenched middle-aged man to do with his life?
Frank has some friends from work. Eddie (Sean McGinley) has opted for a more menial job of cleaning. Danny (Billy Boyd) is a nice, brash, young man with mixed prospects. Norman (Ron Cook) is a good friend but considered a bit of a softy.
Time off gives Frank more opportunity to go to the baths and swim, something he is good at and loves.
Sometimes, he sees his grandchildren at the baths, though it takes him a long time to come to terms with his son after he realises he must.
If swimming were your talent and you had any amount of time, what would you decide to do? Swim the English Channel? Not very likely. But, of course, this is what the film is about.
There is a really pleasant atmosphere about this film despite the hardships.
Ultimately, it is a film of hope (even of inspiration) for men like Frank and their families. It is not without its bawdier side as the men joke with each other, but it is all in good humour.
Director Gaby Dellal brings a feminine sensitivity to this story of a middle-aged man. She encourages performances that give some depth and richness to friendships as well as the regrets of how a tragedy can overshadow family life.
She also keeps us interested as Frank goes about his training, the laps, the swims in the ocean, the details of preparation for the Channel attempt.
Clearly, the swim itself is built up as the climax of the film and, while we never really doubt that Frank will achieve his goal, he has enough struggles on the way that would make any sensible swimmer give up.
But, of course, this swim is a symbolic gesture for Frank. Despite his sadness, his disappointments in his family, in his work, he has found what seems an almost impossible goal which is not only worth striving for but must be achieved.
We don’t begrudge him the happy ending and his clambering to shore to meet all his family and his friends.
Peter Mullan is a convincing screen presence.
Brenda Blethyn has played the supportive wife often before but does it well.
A lot of the feel of the film and the humour comes from Frank’s three friends and the Scottish-Chinese owner of the local fish and chip shop who acts as coach.
Feel-good but not sentimental.
