Introducing the Dwights (2007)
"Clubland" (original title)

The shy son of an aging comedienne tries to find a balance between his demanding home life, his new girlfriend, and his mother's second chance at fame.

Director:

Cherie Nowlan

Writers:

Brenda Blethyn (writer: additional stand-up comedy material), Jo Brand (writer: additional stand-up comedy material),

Stars:

Brenda Blethyn, Rebecca Gibney, Khan Chittenden

3 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brenda Blethyn	...	Jean
Rebecca Gibney	...	Lana
Khan Chittenden	...	Tim
Richard Wilson	...	Mark
Russell Dykstra	...	Shane
Emma Booth	...	Jill
Katie Wall	...	Kelly
Philip Quast	...	Ronnie Stubbs
Frankie J. Holden	...	John
Tracie Sammut	...	Tori
Justin Martin	...	Brett
David Webb	...	Colin
Susan Kennedy	...	Sharon
Paul Barry	...	The Nest Manager #1
Brendan Clearkin	...	The Nest Manager #2

Storyline

Tim, in his early 20s, is quiet, dependable, and held close by his mother, Jean, who works long hours at a Sydney canteen and then does stand-up at night, talking constantly about what might have been (if she'd stayed in England, if she'd had no children, if her younger son Mark weren't mildly disabled). She gets enough club work to keep hope alive. They've bought a moving van, and Tim meets Jill, falling for her but finding the challenges of sex, his mother's prying, and his brother's needs more than he can handle. The family - as well as Tim and Jill's relationship - is on the edge of crisis, accident, or, in Jane's case, self-destruction. Are family dynamics set in stone?

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Plot Keywords:

comedienne | moving van | van | sex | moving | 

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Taglines:

Clubland will make you laugh, cry and run home to hug your family! (Australia Theatrical)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Warner Independent Pictures (us)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Introducing the Dwights

Filming Locations:

Bankstown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$27,734 (USA) (6 July 2007)

Gross:

$378,921 (USA) (17 August 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goalpost Pictures, Film Finance, New South Wales Film & Television Office

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brenda Blethyn, along with Jo Brand, wrote much of the material for the stand up sets in the film.

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Connections

Features The Tommy Cooper Hour (1978)

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Soundtracks

"Ain't Gonna Bump No More"
Written by Buddy Killen and Bennie McGinty
Performed by Joe Tex

User Reviews

A major leap forward for Australian film

Thank God somebody has made a film here that deals with something other than drug-ravaged Westie kids or face-pulling outback clowns. This is a lovely, intelligent, and thought-provoking examination of dreams big and small, and the dignity of aspirations, no matter what they might be. Brenda Blethyn and her ex husband Frankie J Holden are both wonderful in depicting the bittersweet lives of the never-quite-made-it entertainers. Their lives consist of fading theatre posters and anecdotes of past triumphs, as they now lead lives of unimaginable drudgery, she working in a canteen, and he as a security guard in a K Mart. That's the setup. Emma Booth appears, a life force of sexual energy and optimism, which fascinates their son and turns all their lives upside down. Without telling any more about the actual story, suffice it to say this is a film that works on every level. Emma Booth is a great new talent--at times beautiful and drop dead sexy, at other times as plain and unremarkable as any checkout chick--in other words, like a real girl from that background. Highly recommended.