Share
clip 1Clip description
Nick (William McInnes) and Meryl (Justine Clarke) break up in a public park, beside a group of families playing cricket. Nick tells her he’s not in a position to start a relationship. Meryl reacts angrily. He then explains why. Meryl runs away, overcome with shame and embarrassment. Nick, feeling foolish and forlorn, walks away in the other direction.
Curator’s notes
A spectacularly good scene, exquisitely pitched between tragedy and comedy. Justine Clarke’s timing is superb, as she goes from bewilderment to anger to disbelief to acute shame, all in the space of a few seconds. Placing this scene in a public place makes it much funnier, and more painful. It’s certainly no coincidence that it’s in front of a multiracial group of families playing cricket, or that we see a train in the background. There are at least three references to cricket in the film, and many more to trains. The symbolism may be to do with order and chaos. Trains bring death in this film, through terrible accidents. Cricket may be a symbol of life and community, an affirmation of a sense of order and optimism. Very few people die on a cricket pitch. Or it may be Watt’s symbol of duration – dying is getting out, and you only have so long at the crease. Or perhaps she just loves cricket!
