SUBMARINE


UK, 2011, 97 minutes, Colour.
Craig Roberts, Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins, Yasmin Paige, Paddy Considine.
Directed by Richard Ayoade.

What is it like to be an introspectively smart young adolescent who is gawky on the outside, prone to being mocked and bullied? Especially, if you have nice but eccentric parents – and there is an introverted hormonal crisis that wants to extravert itself?

You might not get so many answers while watching Submarine, but you will get to know a youngster who takes things seriously and who experiences the teenage confusions.

Craig Roberts is certainly a find in the role of 15 year old Oliver (though the Internet Movie Database indicates that he has been on the big and small screens for some time). He is on screen most of the film, confiding in the audience, inviting us to share his feelings and puzzles. What complicates matters is that he is attracted to a girl in his class, Jordana (Yasmin Paige, also very effective). He is a good companion to her, especially when her mother has terminal cancer – and then he blows it. It seems he has lost his chance and Jordana takes up with another boy in the class.

But, Oliver is also concerned about his parents. His father is a sea-life academic, rather withdrawn, but has lost his job and works at home. Noah Taylor makes this seemingly unlikely character quite credible. Then there is Oliver’s mother (a different kind of role for Sally Hawkins) who tends to be prim and organised but who is attracted to an old flame (Paddy Considine) who turns up and plays with her affections. Oliver is determined to break up any possible relationship.

So, there we are in a coastal town in Wales, keeping the company of an earnest, searching young lad, experiencing his feelings, his desires and his mistakes, hoping that he will grow into a sensible man and that he will bring his parents together again.

It’s a small-budget film but very effective in its modest way.

1. Praise and awards? A film about adolescence, coming-of-age?

2. The director, his career as writer and actor?

3. Wales, the town, home, school, the woods, the sea and the beach?

4. The musical score, the range of songs, expressing Oliver’s perspective?

5. The image of the submarine, inner and outer life, Oliver’s explanations?

6. Oliver’s point of view, the prologue, at school, the epilogue and the two chapters in between? The focus on Jordana? The focus on Graham? Oliver and his film knowledge, talking about a film about himself, images, voice-over, techniques?

7. The portrait of Oliver, his look, height, clothes, coat, suit, hair, serious face? His age? Relationship to his parents? Their troubles? Spying on them, their sexual behaviour and the lights, his mother’s box of photos, his father’s tablets? Talking with them or not?

8. At school, the boys, the girls, the desk, passing notes, rude notes, reaction of the teacher, saved by the bell? His being pushed, taunted, bullied? His focus on Jordana, the crush, describing her, imagining her? Movie images? Contrast with Zoe, the big girl, taunted, the chase in the woods, grabbing her bag, throwing it, Oliver and his pull, her fall into the puddle, the aftermath, his excuses? The boys and the further notes, having to read them aloud? Jordana and her reaction? The teacher’s ultimate sympathy, especially towards Oliver’s feelings and depression?

9. Jordana, her age, in her uniform, her hat, look, hair? In class? Looking at Oliver? The other boys and their reactions? On the beach, talking, her watching him, the taunts, listening to him, going to the house, the frankness, sex, Oliver and the house and the preparation for the dinner, her arrival, talk, awkwardness, leaving, return, the sexual encounter, the talk afterwards, the change in her, the change in him? his reading note in class and her going with the other boy? On the beach, with the dog, going further into the water, Oliver following, her response to him?

10. Picture of the boys, Oliver’s friends, the notes in class, the taunting outside?

11. Graham and his wife moving in next door, Oliver watching with binoculars, sexual activity? His reaction, dislike of Graham? The visits?

12. His mother, hard-working, with Oliver, please that he had a girlfriend, the tensions with her husband, looking in the box with her pictures, meeting Graham, Oliver and his kissing Jordana as he watched them? At home, watching his mother with the box, not wanting a relationship with Graham? The story of his father, academic, losing his jobs, his expertise, work in the office – but people not appreciating it? His working at home? Depressed, the tablets? Talking with Oliver about relationships? His attitude towards Graham, knowing that he had won his wife from Graham?

13. Oliver, in the house, his parents in bed, their reconciliation?

14. Oliver’s journey, age, education, relationships, sexuality, communication, maturing?