I was living and working in Scotland when I was asked by the "American Women's Club" (of all people) to be in a movie by Ken Loach. I had no direct connection to this "club". My wife (who also had no connection) had been approached by members. Ken Loach was looking for Americans as if we were some specially dressed and outrageous lot. I was wearing a green L.L.Bean fleece (as I always did in Scotland because of the weather) in the scene filmed at Rest-and-be-Thankful. Peter Mullin, who played Joe in the film was at the tea wagon. I was down below with my "wife", another American, near the Mini selling Scottish stuff. The one scene took all day to shoot. I was paid 60 quid. Saw the film in Paisley with next door neighbors who were Scottish. They thought it was very depressing. So did I. Glasgow has its problems. It is still considered the most horrible place in Scotland. As far as drug culture and drug related crime goes, Edinburgh is probably worse! Glasgow will always get the bad rap compared to the "Capitol". That is because Edinburgh wants to get the biggest cut of American tourist dollars. Glaswegians joke about whether they require a passport to visit Edinburgh. They also say "Ah... Edinburgh... the music... the humor... the castle... well, one out of three isn't bad! So Americans, continue to visit Edinburgh only. Warnings to hold onto your wallet. It is thick with thieves, as are the bad parts of Glasgow. As for this movie, and most of Ken Loach's movies, he always tries to make a case against the status quo and blames the British society as a whole. Margaret Thatcher, in Ken Loach's eyes, is the devil for every misfortune that befell British society for the past 25 years or so. Good movie but take it with a grain of salt. Ken Loach and his propaganda, is Britain's equivalent to America's Noam Chomsky.
Review of My Name Is Joe
