Days of the Bagnold Summer
Ever wondered what it would be like if Daniel Clowes set one of his stories in England? Days of the Bagnold Summer all but makes that dream come true, proving that deadpan humor and arrested development work comparably well across the pond as they do in suburban America.
Based on the graphic novel by Joff Winterhart — a likely Clowes disciple, but one with his own distinct style — actor-turned-filmmaker Simon Bird’s feature directorial debut layers impressive technical prowess upon screenwriter Lisa Owens’ ace adaptation.
The film centers on the testy dynamic between moody heavy metal-loving teen Daniel Bagnold (Earl “Son of Nick” Cave, True History of the Kelly Gang) and his lonely librarian mother Sue (Monica Dolan, The Dig), which reaches a boil when Daniel’s plans to visit his father in Florida are thwarted, leaving him stuck at home and even more despondent than usual.
Nothing happens to Daniel or Sue that would count as substantial by most measurements, but the no-frills life that they’ve built — and which Daniel longs to escape, if only he could figure out how — allows for small changes and commonplace interactions to have a greater impact than they would in busier films that don’t take time to examine simple pleasures and travails.
As such, the addition of Daniel’s former history teacher Douglas Porter (Rob Brydon) as a surprise suitor for Sue carries the comparable impact of a nuclear weapon as it threatens to further alter the family’s tenuous bond.
Though spiced up by the occasional apt song or instrumental stretch from Belle & Sebastian, Days of the Bagnold Summer otherwise follows the Ghost World blueprint of dry, hilarious turning points and reveals, such as the type of vehicle in which a man makes a move on his date or the age of musicians rehearsing behind a garage door.
Full of intentional framing and tasteful, subtle zoom-ins, it’s all so confidently directed that one can’t help but be surprised at Bird’s thin resumé. Long a reliable character actor, Dolan capitalizes on a rare lead opportunity by fully embodying the mousy yet kind Sue, and Cave makes for a practically perfect gloomy teen — his raven hair and sullen expressions pairing exceptionally well with Daniel’s all black wardrobe.
While Owens’ script forces viewers to weather a considerable amount of saltiness from Daniel and subsequent exasperation from Sue, the actors’ chemistry blossoms as their characters come to a new, healthier understanding. It takes a while to reach those sweet moments, but in Bird’s hands it’s a realistic journey and well worth the effort.
Grade: A-minus. Not rated, but with adult language. Available to rent via grailmoviehouse.com
(Photo: Greenwich Entertainment)
