This document provides a summary of the 2000 British film "Last Resort" directed by Pawel Pawlikowski. It describes the film's plot about a Russian woman and her son who arrive in London to meet her fiancé but must stay in a small seaside town while their asylum claim is processed. While there, the woman develops a relationship with the manager of a local arcade. It also provides box office numbers, production details, and awards received. Key themes of the film are described as immigration, loneliness, identity, and belonging. Scenes and the documentary-like style are discussed.

1. AS Film Studies – FM2 – British Film – Identity – Borders & Belonging Last Resort (Pawlikowski, 2000) Synopsis A young Russian woman and her son arrive in London, expecting to be met by her fiancé. When he does not arrive, they claim asylum, and are confined to a small seaside town while their claim is considered. A relationship develops between the woman and the manager of a local amusement arcade (played by Paddy Considine). Box Office Opening Weekend: $37,283 (USA) (25 February 2001) (14 Screens) Gross: $114,657 (USA) (22 April 2001) Production Companies British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) . Awards Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer fro PawelPawlikowski at 2001 BAFTAs and nominated for Best British Film

2. SCREENING NOTES Characters Themes/Messages Tania – dreamer, naïve, idealistic, desire for love, she is no one here but had talent in Russia Alfie – confident, funny, friendly, kind, mysterious, repressed past/violence? Why is he here? Don’t see much of his real life – just his jobs Artyom – Carer for mother, adult, jacket and shirt perceptive “armpit of the universe” quote MrStonehaven – suit, gold, stereotype, exploits women Identify with characters – important we like them for sympathy to be evoked. Immigrants – treated like cattle Loneliness, desire for escape, identity, belonging/fitting in (all characters), relationships, hope (lack of?), communication, barriers/borders/inner conflict, idealism, britishness (hard to define), love Representation of Britain Narrative First glimpse of Britain – border – airport – a barrier to a complete life, cold, gloomy, rules and regulations, polite but patronising, bureaucracy. She is a burden. Multicultural – range of accents. Typical run down seaside town. What does it mean to be British? Bingo, seaside, curry, donkey, fairground (in state of disrepair), seagulls as ambient sound, arcades, bad weather. Expectations – due to the genre we expect things to go wrong. Clear narrative structure and cause and effect chain. Central problem – Mark doesn’t come for her so a struggle develops. Trying to escape/survive is central motivation. Other plot points – make money through selling body, building of relationships, Alfie fixing up flat, Artyom’s slight delinquency. Friendship as a a theme tying the plot together. Style (m-e-s, acting, sound, camera) Key Scenes/Moments Improvised acting? Coastal town (Stonehaven) – grim, grey, lacks life and identity of its own, tower blocks, wet weather, disrepair, concrete everywhere. Palm tree wallpaper in flat – peels away – symbolism Camera quite observational and gets in really close to action/characters Handheld camera at times, naturalistic feel, conventions of social realism (realistic style presenting ideas about society) CCTV footage – immigrants being monitored and mistrusted, gloomy music to match the atmosphere, sense of immediacy – this is happening now (documentary feel/undercover) Re-vamped flat signifying a fresh start? Bingo date – 1st proper conversation and we get to know Alfie. Dancing – poignant scene. Day out – all 3 at beach on the boat, soaked by waves etc – sense of fun amidst the gloom.