IT SNOWS IN BENIDORM

Spain/UK, 2020, 117 minutes, Colour.

Timothy Spall, Sarita Choudhury,

Directed by Isabel Coixet.

This reviewer must have led a sheltered life. Prior to watching this film, Benidorm was not part of his consciousness. He had to look up where exactly it was in Spain (discovering it was on the Eastern Mediterranean coast). However, the central character of this film goes to Benidorm and the filmmakers take us with him, discovering the town, its size (dramatic high rise expansion along the beachfront’s since the mid-1950s), the beaches, the nightlife and clubs, and the loud and somewhat boozy Brits on holidays there.

With references to poets Sylvia Plath, the screenplay reminds us that when she visited this town for honeymoon with her husband, Ted Hughes, in 1956, it was something of a quiet village.

But, the film actually opens in a somewhat gloomy Manchester, focusing on a veteran bank employee, clients even going down on the knees to beg him to grant a loan, but his boss treating them with casual unconcern. He is Peter Riordan, is played by Timothy Spall. Which is probably enough of a recommendation for many audiences to make the choice to watch It Snows in Benidorm. For many decades, Timothy Spall has been at the top of British acting.

The smug boss actually arranges for Peter to have forced early retirement. So Peter decides to contact his brother, out of touch with him for over a decade, who lives in Benidorm.

Once the audience realises (already knew) where Benidorm is, the title is more than tantalising. Snow on the Mediterranean coast? Actually, there is a tongue in cheek fulfilment-ending with snow.

Peter has led a rather sheltered life, living by himself, hasn’t developed a great number of social graces. Which means that he is rather out of place in Benidorm. He is immediately fleeced by a taxi driver, rescued by a woman who turns out to be a police officer, tries to contact his brother who seems to have disappeared. What is he to do? And, it would seem that he is unaccustomed to holidaying.

This is a perfect role for Timothy Spall, now looking rather gaunt in his mid-60s, with something of a hangdog look, shoulders a bit stooped as if he was bearing the weight of the world – or, at least, weighed down by his own personal anxieties. But, as he wanders the city, the nightlife, encounters a woman who works in a bar, who substitutes for singing and dancing when the professionals don’t turn up. She is Alex, played by Sarita Chaudhry (who has had a long career but made such a mark early with Monsoon Wedding). They form something of a bond.

But, there are mystery elements, Peter and his search for his brother, discovering his business interests, making contacts with butchers in the city who are up for financial deals. And he experiences some violent threats. There are some final answers to Peter’s search but not some final answers to what Peter’s future will be.

And the snow? Writer-director, Isabel Coixet, who has made a number of films both in Spanish and in English, uses a chapter heading device. But, it is not numbers. It is more of weather forecasts. And, the weather indications are anticipations of what the developments in Peter’s drama will be like.

The film has a rather longer running time, is not in a particular hurry, but invites us to share in discovering Benidorm and share Peter’s discoveries about himself, is brother, and about life.

1. The title, the city of Benidorm, southern Spain, almost tropical, the irony of the title? And the snow in the gift souvenir?
2. The Manchester settings, the bank, the streets, flats? The contrast with Spain, sun, good weather, bad weather? The focus on the high-rise buildings, the beach, the shore, the town itself, the British tourists, the nightclubs, performances? The ordinary life, the visit to the butchers, bars? The musical score, the nightclub performances and songs?
3. Peter Riordan 'sstory? A lonely man, the forlorn man, the audience not learning much about his life prior to meeting him? His age, his work on the bank, the interviews with customers, debts, the Indian couple on their knees begging? The reaction and his boss, businesslike? Peter’s years with the bank, trying to do well by people? Going home, his lonely life? The background of his family, his brother not seeing him for more than 10 years?
4. Peter going to the bank, the discussion with his superior, virtually firing him, the Farewell package? Peter and his pleading for the work?
5. Peter, the decision to go to Spain, the contact with his brother, his promise to meet at the airport? The flight, arrival, his brother not present, Peter’s awkwardness, taking the taxi, the conversation, the driver overcharging him, the policewoman coming and ordering the driver to give back the money (the audience later discovery she was police)? The enquiry the desk, the young man (the later revelation of his relationship with the policewoman)? The mystery, going up to the room?
6. Peter, the uncertainty, trying to find his brother, and answering machine? Lucie, the housekeeping, her suspicions, knowing his brother? Towels in the design of animals? Peter’s reaction?
7. Peter, his hobby, the weather, the chapters of the film indicating such variety in weather? The visuals of the weather?
8. Wandering the town, the raucous British tourists in their behaviour? Shops, souvenirs, clubs?
9. The encounter with Alex, age, background, family? Partnership with Peter’s brother? The club? The stepping in for the girls and her sensual performances? Peter’s response? Going backstage to meet her? The beginning of a friendship, his attention, eventually infatuation? The conversations, sharing with each other, memories of his brother, Alex and her dealing with him?
10. Alex, Lucy in the background, the relationship, at the hotel?
11. Peter discovering the safe, the range of documents? His initial going to the police, the policewoman taking the details, the young investigator and his contacts at the club? Peter going again with the documents?
12. The documents, his brother’s holdings, cash, buildings, failed plans? The indication of the butcher, going to the shop, being put off by the assistant, the later abduction, in the freezer, the interrogation? The irony of the butcher and his being the brother of the policewoman? Information and contacts?
13. Peter, his health, moments of collapse? Doctors?
14. The continued time with Alex, the effect on each, some intimacy yet distance and detachment?
15. Peter’s decision to return to London, the mystery about his brother, the information that he had gone to Africa? Peter thinking his time in Spain futile? It is collapse, the support of Alex, decision to stay?
16. The irony of the title, Alex and her gift of the souvenir, turning it and the snow falling in Benidorm?