'Sixty Six' - Paul Weiland Q&A

We talk to the director about bringing his childhood traumas to the big-screen in a new comedy.

Nov  1 2006

At the tail end of last year, The TOMB visited the set of 'Sixty Six' and spoke to director Paul Weiland about turning the childhood trauma of his Bar Mitzvah clashing with the 1966 World Cup Final into a Working Title film.

How does it feel to film your own story?

It's been unbelievable, like doing therapy.

So how did it come about?

It was originally a speech, but it was really a pitch for a movie as there were lots of producers in the audience. It wasn't really on purpose, but I had thought about doing it as a movie, and when I was writing the speech I felt it had legs. For years Richard Curtis and David Puttnam said 'you need to do something about who you are.' I thought, 'who would want to see that?' But what you need is the link and I had never really talked about my Bar Mitzvah and the World Cup – it was almost like it was laying there buried and then one day, I remembered it was there and it just seemed like a natural thing.

So what was the writing process like?

The whole process has been unbelievably smooth. I did the treatment with Richard Curtis. What was funny was Richard normally does the funniest speech anywhere, but I pipped him on this one. He's a friend, so we sat down and he felt like Freud for a couple of days.

What happened after you'd mapped out the story?

Briget O'Connor and Peter Straughan wrote the script. I have worked with them before and they did an excellent job. It's the fastest thing that has gone into production at Working Title, because normally things take years.

Is it all true?

Everything in the film is based on truth although obviously we've changed things around. Some moments are slightly cajoled to make them work in the story. But I think when I watch the film it will have real resonance.

How did you cast your younger self?

I looked for someone really handsome! Actually, the thing that rings really rings true about the casting is my mum who was, and even though she's 80 now still is, incredibly glamorous. Early pictures of her show she was a stunner, like a film star, so having Helena [Bonham Carter] play her is incredible.

Has she visited the set?

Mum is coming down today actually. She never throws anything away so a lot of the props on the set are from my house. I even borrowed her front door bell. All these things are images I used to have as a child. Mum used to cover everything in plastic, with carpets on top of carpets, and I even got the original carpet from the house. We ripped it out and gave her a new one so she is delighted.

You've kept it authentic then?

Although we've changed things, yes, we have tried to keep it authentic. I didn't want to stereotype a Jewish family because we weren't a stereotype. We were a working class family who happened to be Jewish. Eddie Marsan plays my dad and that was the toughest because everything you want to escape from forever you are kind of reliving. My Dad had OCD so he was always in our room with the fire, turning it off and on, so it's been tough shooting his scenes.

It must be strange reconnecting with your past like that?

Well, I went to the synagogue I was Bar Mitzvahed in, and of the people we used as extras, a guy came up to me and said he remembered my Bar Mitzvah. He was there, and he used to make my father's dentures!

Is it nerve-wracking putting your story up on screen?

I'm not sure many directors have done this before and it is quite exposing. The World Cup is the backdrop really, but this is the only kid in England who wanted England to lose so that's the humour of it. It is a very cruel movie, as we know England obviously do get into the final, so it's how this boy copes. And at the same time he has got these issues with his Dad. He's never been the child because his Dad has always been the child. But I deal with things through humour. There are incredible moments of heart-wrenching pain, but he is also laughing at the dilemma he is in. And because my parents had financial problems, they threw my brother's Bar Mitzvah in a big hall, and mine was at home. So I suppose I get my own back now!

'Sixty Six' is released on Friday.

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