... this was a wosit - good film ...

All or Nothing

I saw the film All or Nothing at the Richmond Film House last night. Having being brought up first in a mining village and then in industrial part of Lancashire I feel I understood the characters well.

At first glance this film is a very depressing film about the life of a pathetic minicab driver Phil, married to Penny, who is trying to hold together the family. Their overweight son Rory is becoming aggressive and lazy. Daughter Rachel drifts on as a care assistant in an old people's home.

The family is always stretched for money and dysfunctional. Rory almost opting out, Rachel being withdrawn and Penny overworked and tired with her job, sorting out the house, cooking and taking the responsibility. Penny is so stressed that she often talks down to Phil. His confidence is low and he sort of wotsit, (Phil's most used word) - just exists.

Intertwined in their story are studies of the pathetic alcoholics next door, which push their daughter into being an aggressive, self obsessed and to put it bluntly - a tart. Another neighbour is a single mother, caring well for her diffident teenage daughter, who has just been made pregnant, by a total thug. This latter story is particularly touching.

The pivot of the story is where overweight Rory collapses with a minor heart attack. Unfortunately Phil is out of touch at this stage, pondering about the meaning of his life. At the hospital there is a row, which follows through at home in a very powerful scene between them.

In the end there is some understanding between them. The heart attack has probably affected Rory positively and in a way bonded him with his parents. There is a strong positive bonding, but poor Rachel appears to be doomed to a sad life.

The film is depressing, but it is also hows the humour of their lives. It is really an exploration of loneliness, even when you are married, living with people or surrounded by others. In many ways the ending was positive, the pregnant girl and her mother were reconciled, the girl next door was getting on with her life despite her parents and Phil, Penny and Rory were closer. However the way of life with little money on these south London states can be crushing. A good film to see.

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