Set in London, the film centres around three thirty-something characters. Ed (Edward Hogg) is frustrated by his job in a call centre selling women's health insurance. By night, he struggles to bag laughs as a stand-up comedian. Sitting despondently on the bus after a particularly cringe-worthy gig, Ed meets Nathan (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), a bright 'sort-of' artist. The two hit it off and start dating. Then there's Elisa (Elisa Lasowski), Ed's flatmate; a sensitive singer-songwriter looking for true love. As Nathan and Ed's relationship develops, Elisa and Ed also discover they have unexplored feelings for each other.
The starkly realistic 80 minute feature explores the emotions and relationships of three liberal young adults. All are seeking creativity and love, but find themselves lost and hopelessly dwarfed by the city around them.
The setting is central to the premise of the film. Having lived in the city for ten years, Israeli-born Shkolnik wanted to present an authentic portrayal of London; something to fit "in that space between gritty estate dramas and Notting Hill (1999). [Those films] miss a whole gamut of experiences" (BFI interview). Certain rules were followed in the making; i.e. no altering or staging of settings, and all scenes were filmed in one take only. The pinnacle is a recognisable top-deck bus scene, where a gang of girls direct abuse at Ed and Nathan for being gay. The film projects a raw modern London that is both progressive and simultaneously intransigent.
The filming took place in East London and the style is simple and intimate. Laboured shots fix on the expressions of characters and follow their actions, reactions and drawn out silences. Perhaps one reason the silences are so frequent and important, is that there was no script. The film was born following intense improvisation workshops. Actors kept their real names, and fleshed out their characters through discussions with Shkolnik about themselves and their own lives in the city.
In the Q&A after the showing, Shkolnik explained that his approach to the film was laid-back and organic. His confidence in the process and actors was clearly pivotal to carrying through the project. The idea was for the film to come about by itself; for authenticity to come across for the fact that the action is in fact, almost entirely real. Ed is not really a comedian. Thank god. But he did actually write the stand-up act and he did perform it in a Leicester Square Club to an unassuming audience. His despair following the flailing act is, as a result, pretty authentic. This off-the-cuff approach was a brave move for a first feature and it steeps Shkolnik as an exciting new talent.
In a final scene, Ed opens up about his despair to a minicab driver. His detachment is amplified as we realise the only place he can forge meaningful intimacy is when relating to an unfamiliar pair of eyes in a rear view mirror. The credits rolled, and I was left feeling frustrated. The ending seemed so abrupt; there was no redemption, no movement, no decision. We don't even know where Ed was journeying to. Then I realised how perfect that was. In a largely improvised film, wrapped around the natural movement of the city, the central theme was not indecision or insouciance, but simply 'not knowing'. The film explores the agitation of real people desperate for meaning, but who just don't know yet; about themselves, or each other.
'The Comedian' is due for release in UK Cinemas on 31st May 2013.
Director: Tom Shkolnik
Cast: Edward Hogg, Elisa Lasowski, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Steven Robertson, Kate Rutter, Gerard Murphy
Language: English
Country: England
Running Time: 80 minutes
