After his memorable performance as Renton's dealer Mother Superior in Trainspotting, My Name Is Joe was the first film to give Peter Mullan a leading role. After Carla's Song (which was partially set in Glasgow and Nicaragua) My Name Is Joe is part of what can be termed Ken Loach's 'Scottish Cycle', a series of films written by Scottish writer Paul Laverty and set in Scotland, which continued with Sweet Sixteen, Ae Fond Kiss and most recently The Angels' Share. Each examines some of the social deprivation issues that have no doubt contributed to the nation seeking a referendum in the first place. Mullan plays Joe Kavanagh an unemployed recovering alcoholic who embarks upon a relationship with his health worker. As can be expected from Loach, the film is unflinching in its treatment of alcoholism. The fact we meet Joe as an amiable and positive force during a period of recovery makes it all the more powerful and horrifying when he does lapse back into his old ways. As has been Loach's methodology for years the background characters of the film are made up of local residents from the area where it was shot. For My Name Is Joe this included many who were themselves former alcoholics or substance abusers, adding a level of authenticity scarcely found outside Loach's work.
As well as the odd article, I apply my "special mind" to scriptwriting for Comics, Films and Games... Oh and I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I like to press wild flow'rs, I put on women's clothing, and hang around in bars.
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