Ken Loach’s new offering The Angels’ Share offers the audience an enticing blend of humorous, bittersweet drama with the gritty realism of life in inner–city Glasgow. The story revolves around unemployed ex-con Robbie (Paul Brannigan) as he vows to change his life for the better, prompted by the birth of his son with girlfriend Leonie (Siobhan Reilly). During community service his supervisor Harry (John Henshaw) introduces Robbie and the rest of the group to the profitable world of whisky, initially with a visit to a distillery, which leads them to meet whisky collector Thaddeus (Roger Allam). This prompts Robbie and his friends Rhino (William Ruana), Albert (Gary Maitland) and Mo (Jasmin Riggins) to come up with a different and very risky way to turn their lives around.
The metaphor of the ‘Angels’ Share’ (the part of the whisky during distillation which is lost to evaporation) beautifully encompasses Robbie’s struggle to become free himself; from the thugs that make his life hell and who could cost him another spell in prison, from Leonie’s judging and impenetrable family, and from the disheartening, depressing prospect of unemployment with little hope, being an ex-con, of earning a decent living.
There are so many aspects of The Angels’ Share which together makes it thoroughly enjoyable whilst very moving. Although a high proportion of the cast are not professional actors and actresses, their performances are, on the whole, of a very high standard. Paul Brannigan in particular gives a great performance as Robbie, who manages to be both convincing as a disadvantaged and at times violent ex-con, whilst also managing to show what a good heart he actually has. The scene in which he is confronted with one of his previous victims and his family is emotional and hard-hitting. Brannigan’s tough upbringing in Glasgow, with heroin-addicted parents, helped him win the part of Robbie, and his real-life adjustment and decision to re-prioritise after the birth of his son Leon is closely mirrored within the film.
Gary Maitland shines as idiotic, blundering Albert, though at times the stupidity of his character seems a little over-played. However it is acting veteran John Henshaw who really stands out as Robbie’s community service leader and, by the end of the film, close friend. It is hard to imagine an actor who is better suited to this part and who could bring more to the role.
The film is shot mostly in inner-city Glasgow but also journeys to Edinburgh, and the grime and squalor of Robbie’s home life is contrasted brilliantly with the beautiful scenery of Scotland’s historical capital. The group’s desperate lives are also juxtaposed throughout the narrative with the glamorous, lucrative world of fine malt whisky. Though this may seem a random topic to center on, it successfully aids the film’s originality.
The Angels’ Share manages to be both poignant and witty, and has some real laugh-out-loud moments, although it can be argued that overall it leans more towards the drama genre rather than comedy. Though the film does show the main character’s struggle to change his family’s lives, it does not shy away from showing the shocking reality of Robbie’s previous anger management issues and as a result manages to avoid preaching too much to the audience. Despite some morally-questionable parts, this is an original British film which in so many ways triumphs above the familiar clichéd, hackneyed efforts which emerge all too often from Hollywood.