The Nothing Men

Anchor Bay Entertainment

R4 DVD

Although writer/director Mark Fitzpatrick has had this film script ready to be made for many years it got its first airing rewritten for a stage show. The success of the show led to the film financing finally becoming available. Reputedly it was made for $400,000, quite a low sum even for an independent film. The results were worth it, though.

The Nothing Men are a small group of workers sitting in a shut down workshop, waiting for their big redundancy payouts to come through. There is nothing to do most of the time except drink, brawl, play cards and give each other a hard time in their coarse, rough way. They are worried when they hear that some men were sacked in another about-to-be-closed workshop after being caught drinking, gambling and leaving the premises during working hours. They feel the company is looking for a cheaper way out rather than paying them their redundancy. Giving them the sack for pointless rule breaches is seen as one way the company can do it.

They are even more concerned when David (David Field) arrives. He looks like management to the men, with his neat clothes and appearance and reluctance to talk about himself. Led by Jack (Colin Friels) they come to believe he is a company spy sent to find excuses to sack them. Why else would he be transferred in just weeks before the redundancies come through and the workshop is completely closed? The strain builds as they have to rein in their crude exuberance so as not to break company rules. David is not helping matters either – he keeps making personal phone calls and unlike the other workers he has permission to go home for lunch. His only friend among the men is young Wesley who himself is hiding a dark secret that has left him with suicidal depression.

They all have their problems – Jack’s 17 year old daughter is pregnant, Des’ wife is cheating on him, Simon is almost permanently stoned, Vince is an aging virgin. David’s problem is his own secret and he zealously but politely keeps it from the rest of the workers. There is something in his life that he is having trouble coming to grips with. When they find out what it is, the men mock David rather than support him. This is enough to push David over the edge and the personalities and problems collide in a result that will affect all of them.

The film has the budget look of limited sets and minimal outside shots but it is saved by some powerful acting. Colin Friels just gets better with every film he does and David Field provides a softer and more human counterpoint to Friels’ tough-guy character. Martin Dingle-Wall as Wesley, caught between the two, does a great but understated job as the depressive but sympathetic younger factory worker.

The film may not be strong on action but is top-class in human interest.

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