Athens 2006 — Panorama of European Cinema

"A Cock and Bull Story":
In This Funny, Horrible World
By Jan Lumholdt

Remember Stardust Memories (1980), one of Woody Allen's earliest critical flops? If so, you might not only be aware of the fact that it's been thoroughly redeemed with time, but you'll remember the film's most enduring line of dialogue: "We like your films – especially the early, funny ones". Allen's on-screen alter ego, director Sandy Bates, hears this over and over again from the people around him (including some aliens from another planet), despite the fact that he really wishes to make serious films – the logical thing, for him, in a world with so much suffering and injustice.

Whether Michael Winterbottom is a fan of Allen or Stardust Memories (probably so; despite distinct discrepancies, both are passionate Fellini and Bergman aficionados) is not really the question here. Rather, it is Winterbottom's recent dealings with such serious subjects as the people-smuggling trade in In This World and, not least, the fiercely critical The Road to Guantanamo , based on the controversial real life events concerning three Englishmen, caught and detained at the U.S. interrogation camp for two years without formal charges. Clearly, the two films are starkly political and relentless statements of a director who, like Sandy Bates, wishes to come to terms with global unrest, and does it well. Wide publicity, vivid debates and numerous awards have confirmed Winterbottom's position as a major filmmaker.

Less attention – and fewer awards – are given to his lighter side. This is very much alive and well. Case in point: Right between the two straight shots of vinegar of World and Guantanamo , the very same Winterbottom has served us a bubbly comedic cocktail in the shape of A Cock and Bull Story , a perfect little gem.

This film of many virtues offers the chaotic atmosphere of the making of a film (recalling Truffaut's La Nuit américaine/ Day for Night and von Trier's Epidemic ), it portrays the great challenge of adapting Laurence Sterne's largely unread and completely unfilmable novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy , it showcases the considerable talents of British comedians like Steve Coogan (already familiar with "funny" Winterbottom through 24 Hour Party People ), and generally accomplishes the same zany, candid and slightly painful mockery of reality found in the likes of The Office , Curb Your Enthusiasm and Extras . Winterbottom handles the genre admirably – no surprise here, for he is good at creeping under his characters' skins, whether it's for the sake of truth or for a good, clean laugh.

Will Winterbottom's speckled celluloid CV eventually highlight this cock and bull story over the topically burning issues of trafficking in the Middle East or judicial murder at Guantanamo? That answer is still blowing in the wind. Woody Allen's aliens put it simply enough: "You want to help the world? Tell more funny jokes."

Perhaps there is a golden middle path to be found here. If so, Winterbottom travels it well, and he's certainly worthy of a heartfelt award for doing so.

Jan Lumholdt
© FIPRESCI 2006

Jan Lumholdt. Born 1961. Swedish-Danish film critic for Svenska Dagbladet. Author/editor of books on Lars von Trier, Harriet Andersson and Per Fly. Other contributions include Film International, Film Comment, Ingmar, Film & TV, Filmkonst. Also radio and television work.

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