| ON A CLEAR DAY |
 2005 - UKDirector: Gaby Dellal
- Reviewed by Jennifer
At first, Frank flounders about, passing the time by visiting friends, having a pint, and swimming at the Y. The sight of a job application gives him a panic attack, but swimming seems to have the opposite effect. In fact, Frank swims like Flipper, and his beautiful form and stamina are a sight to behold. When he begins visiting the pool obsessively, eyebrows are raised, but when Frank decides to swim the English Channel, he finds hope and direction. He also learns that he has more love in his life than he ever imagined. There are many people who look up to Frank, and as they rally round to support him, they are inspired to take charge of their own lives. Chan, the gentle, soft-spoken, owner of a Chinese take-out place is the first to offer encouragement to Frank. He volunteers to help him train, and finds as much information as he can at the library. Frank's friends marvel at Chan's enthusiasm. "I didn't know you could speak English," says one. "I didn't know you could speak!" adds another. But Frank's dream has ignited something in all of them. It has lifted them above the mundane details of daily life and given them permission to think beyond survival. One at a time, these men shake free from the worries that hold them back. But what of Frank and his disconnected family? His wife is appalled to learn that he's been planning to swim the English Channel without ever saying a word to her. Meanwhile, she's been learning to drive a bus, and hasn't gotten around to telling him. After decades of following the same daily routine, they have forgotten how to be friends. By sharing their secrets, they find each other again, but things are more complicated with their son. Rob (Jamie Sives) is the exact opposite of his father. He stays at home with his twin boys while his wife works, and he's involved in their lives in every way. He holds their hands when they walk, and always kisses them goodbye, but his devotion is rooted in pain and loss. Through flashbacks we piece together the tragic drowning death of Frank's son and Rob's brother. This was the defining moment in their life as a family, yet neither of them have dealt with the grief that divides them. Frank's swim across the Channel is not just a physical feat; it's an emotional journey that finds him fighting his way back to his family with every fiber of his being. This finely told story is heartwarming, but never heavy-handed. It establishes relationships naturally, without forcing the audience to make assumptions, but without spoon-feeding us either. I found myself more and more invested as the story progressed, and by the end I was both smiling and crying. On A Clear Day is a triumphant effort indeed. |
| Home | Currently Playing | For Rent | Video Obsession ©2006 Moviepie e-mail us |
When Frank Redmond (Peter Mullan) loses his job after 36 years, his
life is turned on its ear. Without work to define him, Frank must
admit that he's a stranger in his own life. Matters of the heart have
gone unattended for years, and his family has paid the price. His
relationship with his son is so strained that it's easier to avoid
him, and his marriage is an empty shell. Though he and his wife
(Brenda Blethyn) clearly care about one another, communication has
broken down to the point where they no longer share their thoughts and
dreams. Now Frank is forced to take stock of his life. Without a
job, who is he? What the heck will he do all day?
