“I really enjoy these small, moving human stories. They question what makes us what we are, who we are and what is it we want to be.“
Con Nats
4 /5 Dalmatians
I’m usually wary of actors who wrote and direct their own films. It’s not that actors can’t write… but they tend to give themselves big scenes, forensically tight close-ups, all the best dialogue (Hello Keneth Branagh!) and become exercises in self indulgence. Fortunately, Bouli Lanners has gone in the opposite direction.
Phil (Bouli Lanners) is a funny old stick. He’s Belgian, around 60 and living on a remote Scottish island. He’s still doing manual labour with young Brian (Andrew Still) on his grumpy father’s farm. He asks innocent questions like: Why do people wear hats to church? Why is it always windy on a Sunday, and why wear hats when it’s windy? He has an earthly charm but then suffers a stroke which temporarily wipes his memory. When he returns home and finds a Dalmatian in his house, he can’t work out why.
The memory loss seems to upset Millie (Michelle Fairley) who is Brian’s Aunty. She approaches Phil tentatively and it appears there was once something between them. She is torn between igniting a romance or letting her hopes fade. What follows is a lovely interplay of oldies rediscovering their past, as they act like teenagers.
It’s an interesting study into memory, relationships and the human politics of living in a small town. Even the sub-plot of Nigel the mysterious Dalmatian resonates without being heavy handed.
This script is sparse in its dialogue as these are characters stifled by their past. There are a (very) few scenes of Fairley looking into the distance, but the beautiful stark Scottish scenery is a stunning backdrop, and I loved the scene of Lanners walking along the wind swept beach. The focus is on the Scottish landscape as much as the actors and they’re both sparse and moving.
I really enjoy these small, moving human stories. They question what makes us what we are, who we are and what is it we want to be. Like many of us, Phil wants to be happy and is still looking for what that is and Lanners’ script focuses on the characters rather than the actors. They all deliver powerfully understated performances that move you with the raise of an eyebrow. No need for rants and raves here; this is for the mature.
Con Nats, On The Screen
