Heavenly Pursuits (1985)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Charles Gormley

Writer:

Charles Gormley (writer)

Release Date:

3 September 1987 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Vic Mathews teaches a remedial class at the Blessed Edith Semple School in Scotland. Some at the school...

Plot Keywords:

School | Scotland | Miracle | Sainthood | Tumor

Cast

Tom Conti	...	Vic Mathews
Helen Mirren	...	Ruth Chancellor
David Hayman	...	Jeff Jeffries
Brian Pettifer	...	Father Cobb
Jennifer Black	...	Sister
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dave Anderson	...	Headmaster
Moica Brady	...	Radiologist
Ewen Bremner	...	Stevie Deans
Tom Busby	...	Brusse
Juliet Cadzow	...	Woman Teacher
Doreen Cameron	...	Nurse
Robert W. Carr	...	Night Editor
Fiona Chalmers	...	Child in Vic's Class
Margo Croan	...	Woman at Bus Stop
Jake D'Arcy	...	Wee Man in Bar
Bill Denniston	...	Bishop
Ron Donachie	...	Big Man in Bar
Mel Donald	...	1st Man at Bus Stop
James Gibb	...	MacArthur
Sam Graham	...	Doctor Knox
Grace Kirby	...	French Teacher
Phillip J. Maxwell	...	Wee Mike
Ronnie McCann	...	Boy on Roof
David McCormack	...	James
Jenny McCrindle	...	Carole Adams
Billy McElhaney	...	Reporter 2
David McKail	...	Consultant
Lawrie McNicol	...	Reporter 1
John Mitchell	...	Gibbons
Sandy Neilson	...	2nd Man at Bus Stop
Paul Nolan	...	Robbie
Robert Peterson	...	MacKrimmond
John Shedden	...	Dentist (as John Sheddon)
Jay Smith	...	Photographer
Carey Wilson	...	Education Officer
Kara Wilson	...	Registrar McAllister

Also Known As:

The Gospel According to Vic (USA)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

A great little film...

I'm going to begin by saying, this review might be a little biased, since I knew Mr. Gormley, who was gracious enough to offer his time and expertise to young screenwriters, whenever he recognized talent. When I met him (in 2003), I knew I'd heard his name before, but couldn't place how or when. It was only after that first meeting (at a local screen writing group) that I looked up his name on IMDb and realized he'd written one of my favorite movies of the 1980's.

"The Gospel According to Vic" is how I know this film; though, as you can see from the top of the info page, it's mainly known as "Heavenly Prusuits." It's not a big budget, blockbuster film, but it does contain a lot of heart, honesty, and decency. It's a story of miracles and belief -- what constitutes a miracle? What distinguishes a miracle from a happy accident or coincidence? Can you be a man of science and a true believer at the same time? Can miracles happen to non-believers? And just how comfortable are people with the idea of real miracles happening all around them?

I can't really pin down why I like this film so much, beyond the fact that it contains realistically drawn characters who deal with some basic philosophical questions. It's not a big film... not an action film or a broad comedy. It's the kind of movie you could share with your family and have a discussion about it afterward.

Conti and Mirren are brilliant, and even the minor players (like the Doctor and the Priest) are well-acted and fleshed out. Sometimes it's hard to understand the students' dialogue, if you see the film in its original release version (Mr. Gormley told me they'd actually dubbed the film later for the international version, using actors whose accents weren't as thick).

Well worth the effort, if you can track down a copy...