Starbuck

Seen at The Station Cinema in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Bea says: This was quite a lovely film, which gave me that warm glow that comes with knowing all is right with the world.

The film's main character is a 40-something bloke who has never really achieved anything much in life, although he is employed in his family business, has a girlfriend who is expecting, has his own place and friends. And that's kind of what I liked about this film - it was about celebrating the small things, the everyday and realising that what we have, if we have anything at all, is rich.  It's also about doing good things for other people.

This undercurrent carried the film through its main plot - that this man, who was a prolific sperm donor in his youth (and we do find out why later in the film), has fathered 533 children, who, now in their 20s, want to find out who he is.

So a big part of the film is about family and fatherhood, but it kind of transcended that for me (perhaps because I didn't relate so much to the fatherhood thing) and felt about inclusion, about the fact that families aren't necessarily just mum, dad and kids - that they are whoever we want them to be.

So this was a film about belonging, about doing good things, and about how just having an everyday existence is something to feel good about.

A refreshing change from the formulaic rom coms, high violence action thrillers and dull kids' films that dominate the cinemas these days.  Definitely one for a rainy Sunday.

***.5


Cecil says: Actually, Bea's right. And I have nothing really more to add!

It's not a side-splitting, rib-achingly funny film, but the kind of movie where the story keeps your attention and you get a few good chuckles along the way.

That Quebecois French is amazing, though. Must be like listening to a Geordie if you're not a native-English speaker (or rather, if you are native English speaker).

***