Factotum

Dir: Bent Hamer

2005

****

Factotum is definitely one for the fans of Charles Bukowski, which might sound a little obvious but it's a tricky one to get right, although that said, this isn't really how I pictured Henry Chinaski and I started to worry towards the beginning of the film that this was going to be a poor representation/adaptation, but by the end I was more than satisfied. A full on adaptation of Post Office would have been great, although even harder most likely, but I think the essence of the character/novels was well represented. The fantastically named Bent Hamer does a great job as director, giving the film a suitably sluggish pace and Matt Dillon clearly relishes the opportunity to go full Chinaski, both obviously love and understand Bukowski's work. Much like the books, there is a melancholic beauty in wallowing in self-pity, giving up because nothing matters anyway and lighting up a cigarette under a no smoking sign. It's the visual representation of the blue collar blues and it certainly made me feel the same way as the books do. As always though, read the books and then watch the film, otherwise I'm not sure you'll really understand or appreciate it as much.