My Name is Joe
Shown: 15 November 1999
UK 1998 (subtitles)
Directed by Ken Loach
Leading players - Peter Mullan, Louise Goodall and David McKay
Synopsis
Set in Glasgow, where ex-alcoholic Joe (Peter Mullan) coaches, and fusses over, an amateur football team. Community Health worker Sarah (Louise Goodall) is trying to help one of the team's members, Liam (David McKay), whose girlfriend is a drug addict. Joe meets Sarah and, despite the facts that they are both without illusion and that they see their mutual incongruities, their friendship grows into love. When Joe tries to help Liam avoid punishment threatened by the local drugs baron, Joe is put in an impossible situation.
As in the same director's Riff Raff, the authentic accents in this film require some concentration. But the general authenticity of the film lends it enormous strength. The robust sense of humour does not lead the viewer to detachment. Rather, it disarms the viewer and makes the characters all the more credible and touching. When the film arrives at its catastrophe, the surprise of this is only mitigated by its logic. Mullan picked up a Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1998 for best actor for his role in the film.
