Heartlands (2002)

Gentle Colin 'Col' Lawes happily lead a quiet life, running a news agency with his spoiled-rotten wife Sandra and playing competition darts in the Atletic Arms team. Colin catches her ... See full summary »

Director:

Damien O'Donnell

Writers:

Paul Fraser, Paul Fraser (story)

Stars:

Michael Sheen, Mark Addy, Jim Carter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Sheen	...	Colin
Mark Addy	...	Ron
Jim Carter	...	Geoff
Celia Imrie	...	Sonja
Ruth Jones	...	Mandy
Phillipa Peak	...	Sarah
Jane Robbins	...	Sandra
Paul Shane	...	Zippy
Mark Strong	...	Ian
Joe Dempsie	...	Craig (as Joseph Dempsie)
Silas-Paul Simpson	...	Andy
Russell Hayes	...	Russ
Alan Williams	...	Deno
Bill Rodgers	...	Dennis
James Corden	...	Shady

Storyline

Gentle Colin 'Col' Lawes happily lead a quiet life, running a news agency with his spoiled-rotten wife Sandra and playing competition darts in the Atletic Arms team. Colin catches her committing adultery with team captain Geoff, a cop, who pretends Colin abused her. Col is thrown off the team just after it qualified for the league finals in Blackpool. He decides to travel there alone, hoping to win her back. The adventurous journey feels like the start of a more playful life.

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Plot Keywords:

dart | adultery | roller coaster | dart game | funfair | 

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Taglines:

An offbeat road trip... An exciting new world!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene of sensuality and some language

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

A szív és vidéke

Company Credits

Production Co:

DNA Films, Film Council, Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Joe Dempsie.

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Crazy Credits

Coach Driver - Mel Gibson (the credit was added as a laugh at the expense of producer Harvey Weinstein, who wanted starrier names in the cast).

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Soundtracks

I Wonder What is Keeping My True Love This Night
By Kate Rusby
Performed by Kate Rusby, John McCusker, Andy Cutting and Michael McGoldrick

User Reviews

What a lovely, warm film

To be honest I only got this film (on my Xmas list!!) as I have become somewhat of a Kate Rusby anorak over recent months!! Knowing that the beautiful Barnsley lass featured in a cameo and contributed to much of the soundtrack (along with her hubby the incredibly talented John McCusker) was enough for me to get the film, expecting everything else to be incidental. The music is wonderful (as you would expect from Ms Rusby!) and to see the lady herself singing was an added bonus.

However, the film itself surpassed all of my expectations and left me sitting there at the end just thinking "what a really lovely film", yet without being twee. In many ways it came across to me as an example of what British film can do best; quietly humorous, great characters and a rolling story that gently unrolls from a simple plot. Man loses wife, man sets out to find wife, man finds wife.

I genuinely warmed to the main character Colin (especially after he got his hair cut!!) which was superbly acted by Michael Sheen as he set out on his moped to win back his wife. The scenery (and music!) were wonderful and the simple but real characters he came across during his quest added up to a superbly crafted film. The Eric Bristow obsessed darts playing newsagent seemed an unlikely character to warm to but this film achieved that with ease.

A lovely, warm, amusing film that far exceeded my expectations and one that I would recommend to anybody that appreciates good quality British films.