On a Clear Day – 2005 | 105 mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

A predictable mixture of comedy-drama and social commentary puts On a Clear Day squarely in the same territory as Brassed Off and The Full Monty. This feelgood Scottish-set drama follows redundant shipyard worker Peter Mullan struggling to come to terms with unemployment whilst his loving wife Brenda Blethyn surreptitiously takes lessons to become a bus driver. Slow-paced and formulaic, the film is saved by Mullan convincingly juxtaposing Frank’s façade of toughness with moments of gentle humour.

Frank (Peter Mullan) is a hard-working 55 year-old Clydeside shipyard worker, respected in his local Glasgow community, who suddenly finds himself without a job. For the first time in his life, Frank is without direction. During a booze-cruise to France his friend Danny (Billy Boyd) jokes that on a clear day he could the Channel, and the seed of an idea is planted in Frank’s mind. Concealing his plans from his loving wife Joan (Brenda Blethyn) and estranged son Rob (Jamie Sives), the Frank determines to put his life back together by attempting the ultimate test of endurance – to swim the English Channel. With the help of endearingly dim ex-colleague Danny, fish-and-chip shop owner Chan (Benedict Wong), easy-going Eddie (Sean McGinley) and finicky Norman (Ron Cook), Frank trains daily at the local swimming pool and his newly discovered self-respect and empowerment gives his friends the confidence to make strides in their own loves.