Days of the Bagnold Summer

source: Days of the Bagnold Summer

I thought this was a good realisation of the graphic novel by Joff Winterhart - going back to the book afterwards demonstrated thart a good deal of care had gone into capturing the feel of the novel. There are comedic moments but it is not a comedy and, overall, nothing much happens. Having said that I found it satisfying and, in the end, positive. Strong acting throughout - particularly Monicsa Dolan and. Earl Cave.

Most parents will find something to relate to here. Superb character portrayals. Perhaps rather lacking in plot but it didn't matter as the characters and comedy made it watchable. Good fun!

Monica Dolan and Earl Cave deliver very realistic sparring mother and son details. It is understated, and enjoyable just for that, in a world of car crashes and explosions as entertainment options. There's no real baddie here, just humans finding their way, and it's great for that, both in insight and staging. There are a lot of recognisable details in the mother and son relationship and that's the charm of the film. The hideousness of teenage selfishness and meanness to loving parents (I cringed with knowing guilt a few times), and the sacrifices mums make to carry their kids. A lot of humor in it too. Not a lot happens on the journey and it doesn't really arrive anywhere, and that's probably the main let down here. Daniel does become less of a jerk but there's no realisation or revelation and cause to that character arc other than he just grew up a little. Maybe that's in keep with the life observation aesthetic of the film though. Either way it was a really nice 86 mins and a welcome slice of realness in an overly dramatic world.

I liked some things - characters mostly, the mum in particular, but other than that I didn't feel particularly connected to any of it. It had a feeling of realness about it that kind of took me out of the movie at little. Appears to be rather low budget, and I think it almost certainly is, but the production style was a little too reminiscent of a 1990s British soap opera. As much as I've given it 4 stars I don't think it's bad, but there are too many elements that just didn't work well at all for me. The placement of camera's was one of my main gripes, as if the camera's just happened to be there, and served to make it feel not particularly well directed - then again, I later found out that it was previously a graphic novel - HUH? - so, perhaps some of the shots were directed in such a way that bared close resemblance to areas of the graphic novel. I will never find out - I certainly won't read it. The friend I watched it with loved it, and I was sat with him for his 3rd viewing, and can see other's really liked it. It just wasn't for me. I think it would have been much better with a slightly different approach. Oh another thing that grated on me was the soundtrack, which I thought was awful, the songs especially bad!

This film could have been funny and moving, but failed on both counts. An hour and a half i won't get back. Paint a wall and watch it dry instead.

Expected a lot more as Simon Bird has been involved in some fine comedies as an actor ! This just went nowhere really , just a collection of unexciting events with a miserable kid and his dour mother !

Extremely depressing, deprimating film. You will regret and waste your time if you attemt tonwatch this. I don't realise why and how is it rated so high...

This story is very real and is get relatable to ordinary people. The mother son relationship is realistic, and their transformation is heartwarming. I enjoyed watching it.

Greetings again from the darkness. If most people realized how obnoxious they were as teenagers, we'd likely have far fewer folks opting to be parents. Actor-turned-director Simon Bird, in his first feature film, portrays the awkward, frustrating, and sometimes bitter relationship between a confused and directionless teenage boy and his divorced, well-meaning, single mom. The screenplay was written by Bird's wife, Lisa Owens, and adapted from Joff Winterhart's 2012 graphic novel. Daniel (a terrific Earl Cave) is a 15 year old boy who is obsessed with heavy-metal music and resents pretty much everything else in life. He's a droopy boy who can't be bothered to shampoo his hair, and the only energy he expends is with snarky comments to his devoted mother, Sue (an outstanding Monica Dolan), who is clueless on how to connect with a son who bears little resemblance to the younger boy she fondly recalls raising. Sue is diligent with her work as a librarian, and tries to instill some ambition in Daniel by having his seek employment. Daniel sinks into an even lower funk when the dad he worships cancels the boy's much anticipated trip to Florida for a visit. Of course, Sue subtly points out that dear old dad may not be the best idol for her son, but those cautions fall on deaf ears. Instead, Daniel labels Sue, "the most boring person in the world". Their time together is cringe-inducing, as Sue does her best to convince Daniel they can have fun, despite his disappointment. The interesting aspect of the film is derived from its structure as a comedy, while the undercurrent of sadness and isolation is ever-present. Sue is thrilled when Douglas (Rob Brydon), a history teacher, asks her out on a date. At the same time, Daniel's best (only?) friend Ky (Elliott Speller-Gillott) encourages him to pursue his dream as a front man for a local metal band ... resulting in one of the film's funniest and strangest segments. Neither Sue's date, or the aftermath, nor Ky's attempt to help his friend go according to plan. Much of the soundtrack comes courtesy of Belle & Sebastian, and the uses of musical montages actually takes away from the otherwise realistic interactions between these characters. In addition to Brydon and Speller-Gillott, Alice Lowe has a welcome supporting role as Sue's more socially-inclined sister, but this film belongs to Mr. Cave and Ms. Dolan. Most parents can relate to Sue's challenges, and most adults who can be honest with themselves in retrospect, will likely recognize some of their own behavior in Daniel. The nuanced behavior and witty humor is handled well, and that deeper emotional level elevates the film for those who care to dig in. Available in theatres, Virtual Cinema, and streaming platforms on February 19, 2021