Comfort and Joy - Part 1 of 9

Comfort and Joy (1984) marks a watershed in several respects: despite the title and plenty of Forsyth's trademark quirky observations, it's ultimately a bleak, pessimistic film that was disconcerting at the time - but in retrospect it can now be seen to clearly foreshadow his later work.

Like Gregory in Gregory's Girl (1980) and Mac in Local Hero (1983), Alan 'Dicky' Bird (Bill Paterson) is trying to come to terms with a dramatic change in his life by adopting a fresh outlook, but the crucial difference here is that for all the appearance of success (even securing a financial stake in the new ice-cream fritters venture), at the end he is still left alone in a largely deserted radio station on Christmas Day trying to whip up a party atmosphere - presumably aimed at others in his situation.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bill Paterson
• Ice Cream
• Glasgow
• Scotland
• Bill Forsyth
• Scottish
• Comedy

[DotelMotel]

Been looking for this film for YEARS, Christmas has arrived early because of you and this is because of you! Thank you!

[oldglasgow]

@DotelMotel

I was surprised myself to find that it didn't appear to have been uploaded before. I'm glad I was able to play Santa for you!

[v12dot]

Ha! Wish I was :) My mate Jim Gillespie was working on it, at the time and got us extra work. He ended up directing I know what you did last summer.

I was also in it driving my brothers yellow fiesta. Thanks for posting it :)

[oldglasgow]

@v12dot

Sorry for the delay in replying - I have a feeling that Jim Gillespie had something to do with 'The Girl in The Picture' many years ago. Am I correct? I've been trying to find a copy for ages.

[LazlosPlane]

Further to below:

Dicky bird is not "alone" in a "deserted" radio station. He is with his listening family, he is exactly where he wants to be, and he has, most importantly, found PEACE. He will bring company and solace to others that may be truly alone on that day, as he says. He has found his life.

[LazlosPlane]

I disagree with your appraisal of the film. Yes, it is at times dark and disturbing. But I find the theme of the film, based on how it plays out, and the final scene, is one of uplift. Here are the great themes of redemption and transformation. It embodies one of the central themes of Christianity, that to lose one's life is to find it. Although the protagonist is "alone," on Christmas day, he is transformed by an act of looking outside of himself, an act of a peacemaker.

[TheFatweegee]

Lewis's Christmas Windows - fantastic

[taildragger53]

I dont think it was bleak at all.

There was a cosiness throughout the film that took me back to the Christmas's i spent in the UK during the 70s-80s. Wonderful pace..typical of the early 1980s.

[DonaldMcKinney]

Great film, and it's brilliant looking inside Frasers in Glasgow at the start too!!

[v12dot]

@oldglasgow He may have been, because he was in tow with Paddy Higson, who produced it

Another guy who worked on it, was Neil Calder, who I was at college with. Dunno how he went from being a Toyota apprentice to working on films :)