522. Brakes; movie review

BRAKES
Cert 15
87 mins
BBFC advice: Contains very strong language

One of my favourite themes of the moment is the different ways we perceive movies, dependent on our mood or current circumstances.
For example, I believe that Brakes would have resonated with me more had I watched it in my early 20s when I was searching for steady girlfriend.
I have to reach that far back to remember the delights or horrors of dates, the early days of relationships and the break-ups.
Mrs W have been together for nearly 32 years and are well beyond the petty arguments we had when we were younger and so I didn’t find much common ground in Brakes.
That is not to say that Mercedes Grower’s movie is aimed at a particular age group - some of its cast are in their 40s and even beyond - but the common thread is the initial hope and despair of relationships which eventually collapse.
Actually it is despair then hope because the movie begins on its second chapter when rows are at their full tilt, prompting questions over why the characters were together in the first place.
Later it reverts to chapter one which shows when they first met and then fell in love.
Whichever way around its presentation, Brakes gives a pretty dismal view of romance, coming up with the conclusion that whatever the background, love will always be lost.
Poppycock I say, having spent Christmas with my mum and dad who have been together 64 years.
Much of Brakes is improvised so it may be that the cast have an extra-bleak outlook on relationships but I presume they were basing their dialogue on a loose brief.
And there are a fair few famous names, including Noel Fielding, Roland Gift, Paul McGann and Julian Barratt as well as Grower herself.
They are each involved in short poignant scenes which show romance is, indeed, dead.
I admire that they all offered their talents for nothing but hope their reflections on relationships are not echoes of personal experience. If so, I feel very sorry for them.

Reasons to watch: if you enjoy bathing in relationship break-ups
Reasons to avoid: lots of annoying shouting

Laughs: a couple of chuckles
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 5.5/10

Star tweet

FabienLemercier "How did you finance the film?" "There was no finance at all – everyone did it for free". Mercedes Grower about her feature debut, Brakes

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