Brakes is a 2016 British improvised comedy film. It was the directorial debut of actress Mercedes Grower.
Plot The film explores the experience of falling in and out of love through the lives of nine couples in London.
The first half of the film involves the parting of two couples. First, Elliot (Julian Barratt) and actor Ray (Oliver Maltman). After a drunken one-night stand in Barcelona, delusional Elliot tracks down regretful Ray at the National Theatre in London. Second, actress Livy (Julia Davis) and director Alan (Peter Wight) break when Livy is caught in a lie.
Layla (Mercedes Grower) is pregnant by Daniel (Noel Fielding). Daniel, who is dependent on narcotics, works in a Soho sex shop and takes a football with him everywhere.
Cast
Julian Barratt as Elliot Oliver Maltman as Ray Julia Davis as Livy Peter Wight as Alan Kerry Fox as Brinie Roland Gift as Rhys Steve Oram as John Kelly Campbell as Maeve Siobhan Hewlett as Kate John Milroy as Johnny Mercedes Grower as Layla Noel Fielding as Daniel Seb Cardinal as Karl Paul McGann Kate Hardie
Production The film was shot on a very small budget. It was shot using a hand-held camera.
The film was shot over a period of four years.
Location The scene where Kate and Johnny meet is filmed at the Southampton Arms in North West London.
Music The score includes compositions from artists including Quickspace, Sybil, and the Buzzcocks' "What Do I Get?" (1978).
Release The film was premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2016.
Reception Screen International described the film as involving "scattershot – sometimes dramatic, mostly comedic – content, which doesn’t add up to anything terribly profound about the nature of modern love."
Chortle described it as an "unsparing, bleakly funny film".
References