STUDS

Ireland, 2006, 90 minutes, Colour.

Brendan Gleeson, David Wilmot, Liam Carney, Domnhall Gleeson.

Directed by Paul Mercier.

This is a very Irish film – and audiences will need a fine-tuned ear to take in all the Irish accents and language.

It is a comedy-drama. The focus is on a local football team, middle-aged men who train and play together, rather a bickering group as they play. There are various football scenes – and of their bad showing.

At the centre of the film is a bluff and burly man, Brendan Gleeson in a typical role, responding to an advertisement from the team to become their coach. They do accept and what follows is a lot of training, some shrewd tactics, some success, moving towards the top of the ladder.

The film shows in some detail several of the central characters (one of whom is played by Brendan Gleeson’s son, Domnhall Gleeson).

The coach is not who he seems but he does have success with the team, their finally forcing him to drink in celebration and, as we expected, his falling off the wagon. And, questions as to where he will go and as to where the team will go.

1. Irish comedy? Irish drama? Football? Middle-aged men?
2. The Irish town, the soccer field, the dressing room, the roads, houses, atmosphere, industry? The musical score?
3. The title, the men and their age, image of themselves, their work, playing football, enjoying it, wanting to win, down on their luck, the Thursday night practices, with the car headlights, the particular characters, interactions?
4. The football sequences, the play, the defeats, the practice, improving, victories? The hard practice sequences?
5. The men, Bubbles and his voice-over, leadership, the other members of the team, their work, personalities, clashes, comic touches, serious touches, the discussions in the dressing room? The character of the Prophet, quoting the Scriptures, watching, coming in, his skills, Bubbles finding his hut, the death, his playing and success?
6. Walter, Brendan Gleeson character, his arrival, the ad in the paper, the player putting it in, the qualifications? The identity of Walter, the background, playing, reputation, tough? His argument, their accepting him? His attitude towards the men, the demands, the tough practices, the matches, the pep talks, the strategy of losing one match to win the next in the cup? The gradual improvement, the successful matches, the buildup to the final, the losing? His reaction?
7. The background for the development in the town, the field becoming private property, the clashes?
8. The range of men, the film not offering any family background? Just seeing them with their interactions amongst themselves, erratic behaviour?
9. Bubbles, the true identity of Walter, keeping it secret, the team forcing him to drink, his alcoholism, taking home, the wife angry at him, the glimpse of the sun? Keeping the secret?
10. Walter, on the road, the final talk with Bubbles, the alcoholic, taking an identity, his achievement, walking on?