ALL AT SEA
Norway, UK, 2010, 88 minutes, Colour.
Brian Cox, Lauren Bacall, James Fox, Hege Schoyen, Kare Conradi, Ingrid Bolse Berdal.
Directed by Robert Young.
Originally a London play, Wild Blue Yonder, by Robert Janes, the playwright adapted his work for the screen. Most of the filming was done in 2007. However, there were financial difficulties and editing and the release of the film delayed for several years.
Is an unusual Norwegian-British production, with Scots Brian Cox in the central role, American Lauren Bacall, English James Fox and a Norwegian cast. The setting is on the West Coast of Norway, a town, a centre for smuggling, the venue for a home for the aged. (An interesting comparison is the 2021 French film, the Villa with Kev James and Gerard Depardieu.)
This is a very broad comedy, played for farce rather than subtlety. Brian Cox who had established himself in the UK and the US as a versatile character actor and who was to consolidate this reputation in the coming years, especially in the television series, Succession, looks rather wild, behaves in a rather wild way, is shrewd despite his bumbling and intrusions.
At the centre of the story is the death of his friend, both seamen, wanting a burial at sea but thwarted by the autocratic head of the home for the aged. There are some farcical scenes at the cemetery. There are some farcical scenes at the home. At the home is an American widow played by Lauren Bacall. And a military widower also comes in order to write a book. He is played by James Fox.
The latter part of the film shows the attempts to get the burial at sea, the intrusion into the wrong funeral and the church, the escape from the home for the aged, all kinds of manipulations to find and recover the coffin of the dead man – and final success.
An easy farcical comic pastime.
- Based on a play, Wild Blue Yonder? The strong cast? Delays in production and release? The UK contribution? Norwegian contribution?
- The Norwegian locations, at sea, the details of smuggling, harbour supervision, life in the town, the home for the elderly? Musical score?
- The comedy, farce rather than subtle, broad laughter?
- The introduction to Wally, participating in the smuggling, the various people involved, the detail of the sailing, the boat, hiding from the Coast Guard? The news of the death of his friend, the long friendship? Living in the home for the aged? The antagonism with Reimark? Wally and his manner, appearance, gruff, comic? At the home, defying the authorities? The friendship with Mae? His friend’s death, the funeral and his not being told, wanting his friend to be buried at sea, the intrusion at the funeral, the hole in the coffin, driving off with the coffin?
- Nina, her place in the town, knowledge of the smuggling, help, friendship with Wally, the attraction to Ben, his work? Her contribution to recovering the coffin? And the burial at sea? Ben and his friendship, agreement, working the crane?
- George and his arrival, military, proper, widower, writing his book? With Reimark? The introduction, her rules, the room not ready, his having to share with Wally, the contrast, the odd couple, Wally getting in the window, the beds, the demarcation, the music, the snoring? The strange friendship between the two? George and his finally collaborating in the plan for the funeral, finding the coffin, helping Wally escape, the plans and details, George going with him, Nina and Ben, the finding of the coffin?
- Reimark, her management of the home, her demands, authoritarian? Reactions? The visit from the authorities, Wally and his spoiling the show, the authorities threatening her?
- Mae, American, widow, in Norway, friendship with the men, collaboration and the plan?
- Wally, going to the church, interrupting the funeral? The irony of the minister falling into the grave at first, being lifted out? The second funeral and Wally bumping his arm in the sling?
- The final plan, the finding of the will, George, in the rubbish, the revelation to Wally? Getting the coffin, the boat, and the ritual of burial at sea?
