Painted Boats

In this modest drama, set during World War II, two rival boat families battle it out for supremacy.

This is actually quite a gently enjoyable piece of cinematic nostalgia. It depicts the life of "Mary" (Jenny Laird) and "Ted" (Robert Griffiths) whose families live onboard canal boats. Once the lifeblood of industrial Britain, these are now largely obsolete as functioning waterways but these two are trying to sustain their livelihood in the face of roads, trains and the unstoppable march of progress - in a lightly competitive fashion. The story itself is all just a bit insubstantial, tepid - even, but what helps this stick in the mind are the colourful images of life in 1940s Britain - a life that wasn't destined to thrive for too much longer. It's colourful and vibrant with some informed commentaries from James McKechnie that give it an almost "Public Information Film" feel to it. It's only an hour, and is certainly worth a watch for a glimpse of an - admittedly rose-tinted - way of life long gone, now.