Submarine (15)

Directed by Richard Ayoade
Based on the book by Joe Dunthorne
Screening at FACT from 18th March 2011

Reviewed by Michelle McKay

Submarine is the film-directing debut of Richard Ayoade, a well-known face to UK viewers of TV comedies The IT Crowd and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. He has also directed music videos for bands such as Vampire Weekend, Kasabian, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Arctic Monkeys. It is Alex Turner of the latter who provides the soundtrack music for Submarine.

The story is told through the eyes of Oliver played by Craig Roberts: the trials and tribulations of teenage first love, contrasting with the relationship of his parents which comes under stress with the revelation that "the man I stole your mother off" has moved in nextdoor. Although set in suburban Wales vaguely in the 1980s there is nothing that pinpoints an exact year, which gives the film an almost timeless quality. The maritime theme of the title, whilst expressing the feelings of sometimes going under as he navigates adolescence, also reflects his father's career as a marine biologist and is neatly echoed in details such as Oliver's dolphin duvet cover.

The cast includes a stellar line-up of British talent (Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine) however the standout performance for me was depressed Dad played by Australian actor Noah Taylor. Whilst not encouraging people to laugh at mental illness, this quirky movie equally pulls at the heartstrings and tickles the funny bone, and reminds us all of what it was like to be in love for the first time.

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Comment left by Aleeyne on 11th June, 2011 at 11:59
a clever line that - "maritime theme of the title, whilst expressing the feelings of sometimes going under as he navigates adolescence"..... Another movie I'd like to see.