Faintheart (2008)

A romantic comedy set in the world of battle re-enactments, about an irresponsible guy who has to shape up in order to win back his wife.

Director:

Vito Rocco

Writers:

David Lemon (story), David Lemon

Stars:

Eddie Marsan, Ewen Bremner, Jessica Hynes

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Marsan	...	Richard
Ewen Bremner	...	Julian
Jessica Hynes	...	Cath
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Maggie
Tim Healy	...	Geoff
Paul Nicholls	...	Gary
Anne Reid	...	Barbara
Joseph Hamilton	...	Martin
Chloe Hesar	...	Emily
Richard Ridings	...	Collin
Gary Sefton	...	Vince
Kevin Eldon	...	Alan
Sandra Voe	...	Julian's Mum
Matthew Leighton	...	Kim
Tom Smith	...	Danny

Storyline

In the Midlands, two men and a boy are on losing streaks: Richard has a dead-end job, and his wife leaves him because he's inattentive and has a juvenile obsession for 11th-century battle reenactments. His best friend Julian still lives with mum and divides his obsessions between Vikings and Star Trek. Then there's Richard's son Martin, picked on at school in part because of his father's hobby. Richard vows to win back the heart of his ex, Julian may have met someone online who shares his interests, and Martin wants to stand up to bullies. All get bad advice, which they act on. Is there any hope for any of them?

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Plot Keywords:

battle | viking | bad advice | midlands | 11th century | 

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Taglines:

May The Norse Be With You

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English Klingon

Release Date:

27 January 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Nyúlszívű

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertigo Films, MySpace, Screen West Midlands

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite its high profile cast this was never given a theatrical release in the UK.

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Soundtracks

Don't You Want Me Baby
Written by Phil Oakey / Philip Adrian Wright (as Phil Wright) / Jo Callis (as Joe Callis)
Performed by Human League
Courtesy of EMI Records Ltd.

User Reviews

The coming of age of a middle-aged man

Faintheart (the character) is a Viking reenactor (as opposed to a Bravehearted Scot) who, despite having married and sired a son already in middle school, has never quite matured enough to be able to separate his real and fantasy lives. As a consequence, his wife has separated from him; and the film concerns his search for a pathway back into her heart. (Hey, "Richard", what's with the eyeliner?)

As the first Yank to review this film, it's not clear to me why, at a key re-enactment, the audience would cheer for the Vikings over the Normans, unless the Vikings were merely the "home team" at the site of the event, or unless the Brits, after nearly a millennium, still resent the Norman invasion. (Historically, the Vikings launched raids on England, but it took the Vikings who had settled Normandy to later conquer England. According to geneticists, however, due to DNA similarities across sources, the percentage of today's population with Norman blood is indeterminate.)

Faintheart (the movie) is an unusual setting for the standard RomCom. The execution is well-done, but unexceptional. The acting is good all around, but one is continually impressed with the juvenile leads. Faintheart's son, Martin (Joseph Hamilton, in his first credited film here), looks like a reincarnated teenage Jodie Foster, with the covered-left-eye haircut. Martin's girlfriend, Emily, is played by Chloe Hesar, an accomplished TV actress, apparently appearing in her first big screen effort.

Faintheart is recommended for an easy-going one hundred or so minutes of undemanding entertainment.