Out on blu-ray for the first time thanks to a BFI restoration, Bill Forsyth’s Gregory’s Girl has a golden reputation; a key film in Scottish and UK cinematic history, it’s also an indie darling that’s still talked about and quoted today. But in 2023, it’s also a problematic film that’s of it’s time and needs a little unpacking. It’s a tale of a lovelorn Cumbernauld teenager named Gregory (John Gordon Sinclair) who loses his place in the school football team to Dorothy (Dee Hepburn). He fancies her, of course, but life has other plans for Gregory.
Gregory’s Girl was made back in 1980, and bridged the gap between Forsyth’s debut, the enduringly pawky That Sinking Feeling about a Glasgow sink heist, and his best film, the accomplished Local Hero. Gregory’s Girl does a good job of getting inside the head of a young West of Scotland male; perhaps too well at times. We start with a group of boys spying on a nurse’s changing room at a local hospital; using binoculars, they watch a girl undress, and we share the view. There’s nothing wrong with the human body, but enforced voyeurism isn’t such a great look, and scenes like this aren’t subtext, they’re the text.
Similarly, it’s seen as a great gag that when Dorothy scores a goal at football, not only do her own players land congratulatory kisses on her, but the opposition do as well. In the light of the on-going Spanish football scandal, with a male official resigning for doing the same to a female player, it’s a joke doesn’t play so well today. And while the badinage in the school staffroom is well caught, particularly Chic Murray’s brief but iconic turn as a CGAF headmaster, there’s also a suggestion about a potential paedophile teacher that’s also treated like just another what-are-men-like? joke.
1980 was a year awash with crude, sexist comedies, and despite the issues listed above, Gregory’s Girl is more wholesome and honest than any leering Porky’s could aspire to. There’s a cheerful, summry attitude to life, with compassion for Gregory’s predicament, and some faith put in the women who collectively act together to release him from his self-appointed dwam. For all it’s flaws to the modern mind, Gregory’s Girl is a remarkably wholesome film; the bigger picture is that it sees beyond a limited male POV and evokes a wider, humanist picture of life, and that’s why it struck a chord with audiences worldwide.
At over four decades old, Gregory’s Girl is still a classic, well worth reviving and looking better than ever before in HD; you can practically smell the fresh cut grass as Gregory strolls around Cumbernauld in the evening. If Forsyth’s examination of sexism requires a few trigger warnings today, then fine; it’s a film of a specific moment. But Gregory himself is not a thug, a Neanderthal or a sexist, but a young, growing boy afflicted by chronic self-consciousness, and his lessons learned in growing up are ones that many young Scottish males are still struggling to come to terms with.
Gregory’s Girl is out on blu-ray from Sept 11th 2023. Thanks to BFI for access.
I grew up in Cumbernauld before it had such a thing as a motorway so it brings back lovely memories. Wonderful film, too.
Didn’t realise how much of a time capsule this was, blu-ray really brings out the real locations.
Cumbernauld before it turned into a modern desert too. Most of it hadn’t been built yet. It was fields everywhere and half-finished buildings to clamber through.
I see they’re planning to demolish half of East Kilbride and build flats to sell to those keen to live somewhere with no ships, theatres, cinemas or clubs. I think we can them ghettos.
Yep, knock it down, start all over again, ignore all previous flaws.
Loved this post about Cumbernauld and Gregor Girl tourism!
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/684092/posts/5605
I’m a fan of visiting original locations, bd he’s got a point. That clock should be on display!
He made me want to visit the library!
I thought you didn’t have one?
Ah you muppet! The library in Gregory’s Girl!
I don’t know from Gregory’s Girl – I assume she’s related to neither Jessie’s Girl nor Georgy Girl, as both of them are…Australian, I now realize. Huh – but this did get me to look up “Local Hero,” and good Lord, you’re telling me that once upon a time Peter Capaldi looked like a human being and not a tree branch?
Local Hero is a film that’s still seen as the best film made in Scotland, by Scots. It looked easy to do at the time, but the fear has been hard to repeat. Capaldi’s breakthough for sure, never thought he was a good fit for Dr Who, but to quote from Jessie’s girl, ‘ the point is probably moot’…
Cumbernauld is where my tax office was in the job before this one. Probably not shown in the movie. I don’t remember the movie except for Clare Grogan.
Yes, I knew someone who worked in the office. It’s a New Town, which is to say, has little obvious history, a big shopping centre and lots of dormitory housing. And a little theatre.
Sounds sweet.
You are right of course to comment on the unfortunate juxtaposition of contemporary events and this celebration of one of the warmest and most perceptive social comedies ever to emerge from the UK. But I do prefer this to Local Hero. The depiction of the school puts this next to Kes (1969) and the school scenes of The Beiderbecke Trilogy (1985-8) as the very best of UK film and TV. The ‘authenticity’ of Gregory’s Girl must be more apparent to you than to me – but you didn’t mention Clare Grogan! The inept British males and the intelligent and imaginative females are the bedrock of the best British comedies.
That last line is exactly what I’m trying to say, many thanks! I think Gregory’s Girl needs careful treatment now; it’s not endorsing the male attitudes of the time, but demonstrating how a character can get beyond that. It’s a little awkward and uncomfortable to watch in 2023, but that’s still right for Gregory, who is both of these things. This film is legandary in Scotland, and particularly Scottish schools, but it’s all very unforced by Forsyth, who has a very light touch for an early film in his career. Nice to remember James Bolam in Beiderbecke, still have his line about ‘rescuing the perishables in my head’ ; great little show in its day.
So they didn’t have separate boys and girls sports at that time? When did that start happening?
Mixed sports, and particularly football, remains something of a rarity to this day. This film suggests otherwise, but girls and boys generally do different things.
What is the current status of Cumbernauld Town Centre? Still standing?
Was last week, it’s about 15-20 minute drive from where I am. Modernist, brutalist, not typical Scotland at all, and freshly minted in 1980.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty6hKOYCDs0
Ah, the city of tomorrow . . .
Back in the days when kids smoked sweetie cigarettes, kids could buy singe fags from the ice-cream van and there were pictures of topless women on the back of lager cans. Probably best to move forwards, since backwards isn’t much use.
I have some memory of this but I can’t be 100% sure I ever saw it. Don’t think the nostalgia would work as well for me. Watched Local Hero again recently and sort of gave it a shrug.
Worth seeking out; some view it as superior to Local Hero, which I should take another look at. Nostalgia is one thing, but Forsyth was a fairly unique voice and its a shame that his talent wasn’t properly valued by the film system here.