Leaving

            
             Leaving: to go away finally or permanently; to abandon; to disappear.
             Daniel Boyle cleverly incorporates many aspects of "leaving" into his work, while directing this tragic-comic film. Greenock, famous for its shipbuilding during the post war period was the backdrop of the film, and played a significant role. We see one of the three main, male characters head for the Merchant Navy as "Our Lady's" gates open, leaving every possession behind. During the film we see fathers who abandon their families, fathers who leave their child to grow alone and most solemnly fathers who disappear permanently through death. It was these types of "Leaving" that touched me, as all three sons had no positive influences on them, throughout the period when they needed it most.
             Fathers are role models to their sons, but what could you learn from a father who left you at the age of five, and was responsible for your mother taking her own life? To Nick it felt like a nightmare, he was left scarred when his father disappeared without saying a word. Except from being unforgivable, Nick's father was a mysterious and exciting character; though we only see him in photos and flashbacks from Nick's childhood, we learn a lot about him. Although Nick goes away to sea after leaving school, we find that it is not his career ambition, but his life ambition-to find his long, lost father. If and when Nick meets his father his unloving, childish behaviour could never compare to Uncle Tommy's immaculate nature.
             Uncle Tommy cared and reared Nick after his parents had abandoned him. He was a hard working, middle class 1950's man, who offered everything he could to Nick. He encouraged Nick in his schoolwork and tried his best to understand the modern day humour by indulging in comic books. Even though he had a tough exterior Tommy was not afraid to show his sensitive side, as on reading his sister's suicide note he expressed his emotional feelings naturally.