Powder Room

source: Powder Room

This underrated gem of work could have been written by Samuel Beckett. In a tale that juxtaposes both the tragic and the comedic, we see an assortment of characters living lives of quiet desperation. When 'Godot' was performed in San Quentin, then entire prison sat transfixed, because they understood the true meaning of desperation and hopelessness, and I'm guessing that there are many people who'll watch this with a knowing smile - or tear. Sheridan Smith - what's to say? Magnificent. Magnificent. Magnificent. And the rest of the cast weren't that far behind. Superb.

Powder Room is adapted from a stage play, When Women Wee. Its theatrical origins is difficult to hide as the film is essentially based in the female toilets of a night club. In the course of an evening in a typical disco in any town in the UK. Sam (Sheridan Smith) tired of her dreary life and dead end job makes out to be a divorce lawyer to two sophisticated friends she has just met. This means bad mouthing her usual low rent and trashy friends but Sam cannot avoid her mates for long. In the toilet cubicles, the truth unfurls that Sam's life is not as exciting as she wants it to be. If Powder Room was meant to be a farce, then it is not funny enough. If it wanted to show us the amusing goings on in women's toilets, then the audience did not need to see it. The film lacks a strong plot, humour and any defined characters.

I saw this filmed discussed a bit I think on Film 2013 with Claudia Winkleman and Danny Leigh, I knew the title meant it being in a women's toilet for most, if not all, of the film, and with a good cast of leading ladies I was hoping for something good. Basically the film revolves around the lives of a group of young female adult friends on a big night out in the nightclub called Big Sky, specifically how the life of Sam (The C Word's Sheridan Smith) is turned upside down. Sam is reunited with her old college friends, Chanel (Jaime Winstone, Ray's daughter), Michelle ("Foundations" singer Kate Nash) and Jess (Oona Chaplin, Charlie's granddaughter). Sam is forced to re-evaluate her life and put on an elaborate facade to convince them she has it all, but it is a flurry of shots, cigarettes, cider and toilet transgressions, and her dysfunctional but devoted friends intervening, that cause her charade to crumble. Sam is faced with the harsh realities of life, struggles to remain herself and tries to reassess what she wants out of life, in the end she is cheered up and reunited by her friends as they dance badly to "Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedingfield. The small character stories and big conversations all take place in the powder room, i.e. ladies' toilet, with the ever-present Toilet Attendant (Johnnie Fiori) watching and listening in the corner, only moving to give the girls a lollipop or clean up the mess they leave, she has little dialogue, but her disapproving and reactionary looks speak volumes. Also starring Riann Steele as Paige, Sarah Hoare as Saskia, The Bill's Micah Balfour as James, Alex Warren as Sean, Zara White as Stacey, Alice Sanders as Mel, Antonia Bernath as Kim, Jodi Halpin as Linzi and EastEnders' Bunmi Mojekwu as Louise. The film was partly inspired by the scriptwriter hearing a conversation between two ladies in separate cubicles, you can believe that, it is unlikely a film like this would work in the mens', ladies' toilets are where many girls get their feelings off their chest before going out to face the show of wherever they are, I found it more dramatic than funny, but the performances are all good, it does make you laugh at the right moments, and it does its best through editing and soundtrack to be energetic, not a bad comedy. Worth watching!

I was impressed with this film! Its very current and i believe will be enjoyed by both men and women from Britain. Im not sure the likes of USA viewers would fully understand it, but its on point with British culture so if you want to know what its like to be young in Britain then watch this film. The cast were fantastic and the film features some very funny scenes (inverted nipples scene was hilarious) its been directed very well so credit to M J Delaney. I believe the film is based on the play 'when women wee'. Although its mostly set in a nightclub toilet the film had my full attention the whole time and although very funny, quite heartfelt at times. If your a man wondering exactly why women leave you stood outside a club toilet for an hour at a time then this film is the perfect insight as to why. Personally I found the film fun to watch with the girls simply because you'll all laugh at which character you are!! I rented the film firstly as I wasn't sure if it would be a flop as it wasn't given huge exposure on release however I brought it on DVD as I was not disappointed.

I happened to enjoy this film, even though it occurred mostly in a womens' bathroom. The opening exposition is clever, and if one can set aside the disbelief that rises due to the amount of time the characters spend a penny (and other things) in the loo, this drama unfolds slowly but interestingly for the rest of the film. It's not a comedy per se, but some amusing moments do take place, some of which involves the British love of lavatory jokes. The movie builds momentum and once the main character's elaborate tale starts to unravel, the pace picks up dramatically and critical mass is achieved. It is a little overlong and could have done with some deletions, but being converted from a stage play perhaps the author did not want to leave out some items which were considered important. More an introspective drama with some female fart jokes, than anything else, although I did laugh at Chanelle's diagnosis of her intestinal difficulties. As all the good music finished about 1978, watch out for the Womens' room attendant, who happens to have a magnificent voice, displayed at the final point before the end credits. And us men always did want to know why women like to visit the toot in two's....

I absolutely love this film. Original, relevant, and honest. Acting is superb, Sheridan Smith shines as per. It's so relatable too; I have been these girls, my friends have been these girls. It was truly refreshing to watch something that I can see myself in. The feeling of the club can feel claustrophobic, but then again isn't it meant to? With the setting confined to the club and in particular the club toilets for the majority of the film the characters are forced to confront themselves, seen through multiple mirror and toilet cubicle shots. The noise and bustle of the club is juxtaposed with the quiet reflection of the ladies toilets. In this quiet their honest selves are forced to come out and the powder room becomes the place of truth and reflection. All in all, an enjoyable film because it's so honest.

Good movie!

Powder Room