On a Clear Day (2005)
On a Clear Day (2005), directed by Gaby Dellal, starring Peter Mullan and Brenda Blethyn.
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Anything is possible
Synopsis
After decades of laboring as a Glasgow shipbuilder, Frank Redmond, a no-nonsense 55-year-old working-class man, suddenly finds himself laid off. For the first time in his life, he is without a job or a sense of direction, and he's too proud to ask for guidance. His best mates - rascally Danny, timid Norman and cynical Eddie - are there for him, but Frank still feels desperately alone. An offhand remark from Danny inspires Frank to challenge himself. Already contemplating the state of his relationships with loving wife Joan and all-but-estranged son Rob, Frank is determined to shore up his own self-confidence. He will attempt the near impossible - swimming the English Channel.
- David JohnsonCinematography
- Gaby DellalDirector
- Robin SalesEditing
- Dorothy BerwinProducer
About the film
On a Clear Day is a 2005 Scottish drama film written by Alex Rose and directed by Gaby Dellal. It stars Peter Mullan as Frank Redmond, an engineer in the shipyards on the River Clyde, who becomes stagnant and quickly sinks into depression following his redundancy. A naturally strong swimmer, Frank gets an idea while on a 'booze cruise' with his friends to swim the English Channel. Featuring an ensemble cast, it co-stars Brenda Blethyn, Sean McGinley and Billy Boyd, among others.
The filmed won two BAFTA Scotland Awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay.
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On a Clear Day is a 2005 Scottish drama film written by Alex Rose and directed by Gaby Dellal. It stars Peter Mullan as Frank Redmond, an engineer in the shipyards on the River Clyde, who becomes stagnant and quickly sinks into depression following his redundancy. A naturally strong swimmer, Frank gets an idea while on a 'booze cruise' with his friends to swim the English Channel. Featuring an ensemble cast, it co-stars Brenda Blethyn, Sean McGinley and Billy Boyd, among others.
The filmed won two BAFTA Scotland Awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay.
Plot
The story is set in Glasgow, Scotland near the banks of the River Clyde. After completing the construction of the ship RFA Mounts Bay, Frank Redmond (played by Peter Mullan) and a few of his co-workers are laid off from the shipyards after 36 years service. This, along with his grief still suffered over the drowning of one of his sons many years ago, plummets Frank into a deep depression. He gets on well with his wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn), but their relationship is distant. Joan is studying to become a bus driver; an arrangement which she initially keeps a secret from her husband. His other son, Rob (Jamie Sives), is a devoted house husband who looks after his twin sons, while his wife, Angela (Jodhi May) works full-time at the local Jobcentre. Rob has a troubled relationship with his father, feeling the guilt of being the 'surviving' son.
After a violent panic attack, Frank realizes that he needs some focus in his life, and, after a booze cruise along the English Channel, decides to focus his efforts on swimming across it. Frank trains with the help of friend and local chip shop owner Chan (Benedict Wong) and former co-workers Danny (Billy Boyd), Eddie (Sean McGinley) and Norman (Ron Cook) until he feels he is fit and ready for the attempt. A successful crossing alleviates the family tensions.
Filming locations
The majority of the film was shot in Glasgow. The production visited Kent to shoot at the foot of the White Cliffs of Dover where Frank starts his swim of the English Channel and the famous cliffs can also be seen in the background throughout his challenge. The Port of Dover was used for the scenes where Frank’s family and friends race to meet him in France at the end of his swim.
Cast
Peter Mullan as Frank Redmond
Brenda Blethyn as Joan Redmond
Jamie Sives as Rob Redmond
Jodhi May as Angela Redmond
Billy Boyd as Danny
Benedict Wong as Chan
Sean McGinley as Eddie
Ron Cook as Norman
Shaun Dingwall as Observer
Tony Roper as Merv
References
External links
On a Clear Day at IMDb
Text from On a Clear Day (film) on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_a_Clear_Day_(film)
Trivia
- It grossed US$ 878.122 worldwide.
- It premiered on August 18, 2005, a Thursday.
- It runs 1h38 — a typical feature length.
- This film's quiz has 13 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- StudiosThe Glasgow Film Fund, Baker Street, Forthcoming Productions
- CountriesUnited Kingdom
- LanguagesEnglish
- Box officeUS$ 878,122
- StatusReleased
More about this film
Filming locations
- Isle of Man
Videos
Cast
-
Peter Mullan
Frank -
Brenda Blethyn
Joan -
Sean McGinley
Eddie -
Jamie Sives
Rob -
Billy Boyd
Danny -
Ron Cook
Norman -
Jodhi May
Angela -
Benedict Wong
Chan -
Shaun Dingwall
Observer -
Paul Ritter
Mad Bob -
Nigel Lindsay
Sharp Suit - John Yule Driving Instructor
Quiz about this movie
Questions from the whole catalogue.
Play nowIf you liked this one
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O Lixo e o Sonho
7.1
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NYAD
7.1
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Provocação
6.6
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Pride: Orgulho de uma Nação Drama from the 2000s
6.7
-
Horizonte Profundo: Desastre no Golfo
6.9
-
Momento de Afeto
6.5
-
O Destino do Poseidon
7.2
-
Stillwater: Em Busca da Verdade
6.6
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Felizes Dezesseis Drama from the 2000s
7.0
-
Sonhos de Trem
7.3
-
Erin Brockovich: Uma Mulher de Talento Drama from the 2000s
7.4
-
O Rio Selvagem
6.5
Tags
Crew
- David Johnson Cinematography
- Gaby Dellal Director
- Robin Sales Editing
- Dorothy Berwin Producer
- Martha Coleman Producer
- Sarah Curtis Producer
- Stephen Warbeck Original music
- Alex Rose Writer
Questions about this film
What is On a Clear Day about?
On a Clear Day: After decades of laboring as a Glasgow shipbuilder, Frank Redmond, a no-nonsense 55-year-old working-class man, suddenly finds himself laid off. For the first time in his life, he is without a job or a sense of direction, and he's too proud to ask for guidance. His best mates - rascally Danny, timid Norman and cynical…
Who directed On a Clear Day?
On a Clear Day was directed by Gaby Dellal in 2005.
Who stars in On a Clear Day?
The cast of On a Clear Day includes Peter Mullan, Brenda Blethyn, Sean McGinley, Jamie Sives and Billy Boyd.
How long is On a Clear Day?
On a Clear Day runs for 98 minutes, or 1h38.
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Page updated on 09/10/2026.
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