This is a warm, funny and touching film about the trials and tribulations of adolescent angst and first love. Set in a comprehensive school in Cumbernauld (the home town of the Scottish director Bill Forsyth), the story centres on how Gregory – a gangly, awkward sixteen year old finds his first girl friend. When the beautiful Dorothy offers to play for the boy’s school football team, the boys and the coach are initially highly sceptical of her abilities. When it quickly becomes apparent that she is the best player, she takes Gregory’s place as centre forward. He in turn is demoted to goalkeeper. Gregory, along with all the other members of the team develops a huge crush on Dorothy.
John Gordon Sinclair perfectly captures the awkwardness, idiosyncrasy, rudeness and vulnerability of teenage years. There are some painfully funny (and true to life) scenes, especially when Gregory is trying to impress the knowing Dorothy with his (appalling) goalkeeping skills, and rehearsing how he will ask her out. Gregory has a younger sister who provides him with wise counsel about girls throughout the film, and an older brother who eventually lends him his prize jacket for his date. There is a truth captured here about the bonds of sibling love that lie beneath what can be superficially raw and hurtful. The outcome of Gregory’s date with Dorothy is delightfully romantic but unexpected, for reasons which I will not give away.
The supporting cast bring to life some wonderfully colourful yet sympathetic characters, including the middle-aged football coach who thinks he’s still young, and Gregory’s two friends who are so hilariously ignorant of how to speak to girls that they forlornly try to hitch to Caracas where they believe their approach will work. The film is directed with a discernible sensitivity and lightness of touch. Ultimately it is a celebration of everyone’s quirkiness and individuality.
Geoff Butts
