Days of the Bagnold Summer

source: Days of the Bagnold Summer

I thought this was a good realisation of the graphic novel by Joff Winterhart - going back to the book afterwards demonstrated thart a good deal of care had gone into capturing the feel of the novel. There are comedic moments but it is not a comedy and, overall, nothing much happens. Having said that I found it satisfying and, in the end, positive. Strong acting throughout - particularly Monicsa Dolan and. Earl Cave.

Most parents will find something to relate to here. Superb character portrayals. Perhaps rather lacking in plot but it didn't matter as the characters and comedy made it watchable. Good fun!

Monica Dolan and Earl Cave deliver very realistic sparring mother and son details. It is understated, and enjoyable just for that, in a world of car crashes and explosions as entertainment options. There's no real baddie here, just humans finding their way, and it's great for that, both in insight and staging. There are a lot of recognisable details in the mother and son relationship and that's the charm of the film. The hideousness of teenage selfishness and meanness to loving parents (I cringed with knowing guilt a few times), and the sacrifices mums make to carry their kids. A lot of humor in it too. Not a lot happens on the journey and it doesn't really arrive anywhere, and that's probably the main let down here. Daniel does become less of a jerk but there's no realisation or revelation and cause to that character arc other than he just grew up a little. Maybe that's in keep with the life observation aesthetic of the film though. Either way it was a really nice 86 mins and a welcome slice of realness in an overly dramatic world.

I liked some things - characters mostly, the mum in particular, but other than that I didn't feel particularly connected to any of it. It had a feeling of realness about it that kind of took me out of the movie at little. Appears to be rather low budget, and I think it almost certainly is, but the production style was a little too reminiscent of a 1990s British soap opera. As much as I've given it 4 stars I don't think it's bad, but there are too many elements that just didn't work well at all for me. The placement of camera's was one of my main gripes, as if the camera's just happened to be there, and served to make it feel not particularly well directed - then again, I later found out that it was previously a graphic novel - HUH? - so, perhaps some of the shots were directed in such a way that bared close resemblance to areas of the graphic novel. I will never find out - I certainly won't read it. The friend I watched it with loved it, and I was sat with him for his 3rd viewing, and can see other's really liked it. It just wasn't for me. I think it would have been much better with a slightly different approach. Oh another thing that grated on me was the soundtrack, which I thought was awful, the songs especially bad!

This film could have been funny and moving, but failed on both counts. An hour and a half i won't get back. Paint a wall and watch it dry instead.

Expected a lot more as Simon Bird has been involved in some fine comedies as an actor ! This just went nowhere really , just a collection of unexciting events with a miserable kid and his dour mother !

Extremely depressing, deprimating film. You will regret and waste your time if you attemt tonwatch this. I don't realise why and how is it rated so high...

This story is very real and is get relatable to ordinary people. The mother son relationship is realistic, and their transformation is heartwarming. I enjoyed watching it.