The Drowning of Arthur Braxton

Dear oh dear! Very disappointing indeed. This film really doesn't know what it wants to be - one minute it's all teenage angst, then it's coming of age, modern mystery, Victorian ghost melodrama, morality lesson about the dangers of drink... and probably a few more besides. It starts confusing and ends just as bad - the key character and hiss arch protagonist suddenly change attitudes 180 degrees but it is never properly explained why. Despite the negatives though I must say it was well cast, well shot and well directed - it's the story line which lets it down so badly. About the only thing I enjoyed were the location shots in the old, abandoned swimming baths which I believe to be in Manchester - I well remember learning to swim in a near identical baths in Bury.