I found this film when it shown on Film4, I knew nothing about it previously, I was attracted to watching it because of the good names in the cast, it being directed by Ken Loach (Cathy Come Home, Kes, Sweet Sixteen, Looking for Eric), and having high critic ratings. Basically, set in Scotland, Joe Kavanagh (Peter Mullan) is an unemployed former alcoholic, who regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He has various friends in the neighbourhood that are doing dodgy deals, but he tries not to be part of them. He also spends time as a coach for the local football squad. One day, Joe meets Sarah Downie (Louise Goodall), a health worker, who is helping his friend Liam (David McKay) with his issues. Joe, with the help of Shanks (Gary Lewis), complete a wall papering and paint job in Sarah's flat. Later, Sarah and Joe have dinner together. There is a bottle of red wine on the table, but Joe does not drink any of the alcohol. Joe reveals to Sarah that he is an alcoholic and he has not had a drink in ten months. Joe is happy that Sarah knows and that she has been direct in her responses to him. Joe attends the Mayfield Health Centre in the hope of seeing Sarah and inviting her on a date, they talk a little and he asks her to call if she fancies doing something together. Sarah speaks with her colleague, Maggie (Deacon Blue singer Lorraine McIntosh), she says that Joe seems a bit wild. Sarah and Joe go tenpin bowling together and they later go back to Sarah's place. She offers him a cup of tea which he politely refuses, they have a friendly argument, during which Sarah locks herself out of her flat. They move on and go to Joe's place, where he tells a story of how he was desperate for a drink one day and what transpired. When Sarah asks him what made him stop drinking, Joe is scared to tell her and that there is a strong chance that she will hate him if he does. Joe explains that there was a girl he used to drink with, and they loved one another. A flashback reveals that one night, in his drunken state, he lost control and beat her by punching and kicking her, while she lay helpless. He blacked out the following day, but he now remembers what he did. He states how ashamed and disgusted he is with himself and has not yet forgiven himself for his actions. Joe meanwhile tries to help Liam who is trying to go clean after a long period of drugtaking, but he still owes money to dealers and other criminals who are threatening him. In a later scene, Joe gives Sarah a pair of earrings, as well as a ring. Sarah tells him that she does not want the ring and Joe cannot understand what he has done wrong. Sarah later arrives at his place and apologises, laughing at the fact that he angrily threw away the ring, they reconcile and embrace. Later, Joe is shocked with his unwitting role in a robbery with his mates, but he still acts as the get-away driver. Joe confronts criminal McGowan (David Hayman) about his involvement in the robbery and the threats against Liam, but this does not help. Meanwhile, Sarah reveals to her co-worker Maggie that she is pregnant. At Sarah's flat, she expresses her reservations about Joe's dealings with Liam. Joe tells her that there are some things that she does not need to know. Sarah accuses Joe of being a drug dealer, asking where he got the money for the earrings and ring, she is angry that she accepted the money from the gang. After trying to talk to Liam, Joe returns to his flat with bottle of alcohol. He pours himself a drink and takes a sip. Liam then goes to Joe's flat, where Joe is very inebriated and becomes hostile towards him. Liam witnesses members of the gang coming towards the premises and feeling that there is nowhere to go he improvises a noose and hangs himself out of the window. Joe suddenly snaps awake and realises that Liam has taken his own life. It ends with Joe and Sarah attending Liam's funeral. Also starring Anne-Marie Kennedy as Sabine, Scott Hannah as Scott, and David Peacock as Hooligan. Mullan gives a good performance as the recovering alcoholic who becomes romantically involved with a health service worker, but their relationship is constantly challenged by his addiction and the Glaswegian underworld. I'm relieved it was not all doom and gloom, drink and drugs, there are the light-hearted character interactions, with some amusing moments, and obviously the love story is pleasant. I must be honest and say that I could not completely follow everything going on, especially not the criminal activities, and strong Scottish accents made a little tricky to understand, and I do not know if I can agree with critics giving a full five out of five stars, but it is not a bad drama. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best British Film. Worth watching, in my opinion!
Review of My Name Is Joe
