Cosi
1996
Character: Errol
Other Main Players:
Barry Otto (Roy)
Toni Collette (Julie)
Ben Mendelsohn (Lewis)
Paul Chubb (Henry)
Rachel Griffiths (Lucy)
Aden Young (Nick)
Jackie Weaver (Cherry)
Pamela Rabe (Ruth)
David Wenham (Doug)
This is the story of Lewis who takes time out from supposed 'serious' directing
to work in a mental institution directing their production. Roy - one of the
patients - is fanatical about Mozart's opera of Cosi fan tutte and somehow the intended
variety performance ends up becoming a major production of Cosi.
Colin plays Errol one of the psychiatric nurses. He originally gives the impression
of being a hard line 'follow the book' type of guy. But as the movie unfolds, he is
clearly shown as a guy who treats the patients with respect rather than treating them as
crazy people as the other heirachy do.
He just has his own way about it!
I wonder if Errol saw Lewis as a younger version of himself, before he became caught up
with the mundane duties of the job. Lewis is keen and enthusiastic and his life is
changed by the people he works with at the institution.
At one point in the film however, Errol is not overly keen to take the therapy group out
to see an actual performance of theatre. But other than Doug setting anything and
everything alight that he could, the trip is a success.
Lewis is fired from his job after Doug, who is obviously a pyromaniac, burns down the building they were going to perform in. The patients beg Lewis to continue working with them. So, they rehearse for the 'variety performance' during the day, and 'Cosi' at night, whilst also converting an old laundry building into a theatre.
The play surrounding the subject matter of love and fidelity hits a raw nerve
with Lewis and his girlfriend Lucy. Lewis is focussing all his energy and thoughts
on getting the production ready, and fails to see his relationship with Lucy is starting
to crack. It comes to a head when Lewis confronts her about sleeping with his friend
Nick.
Errol appreciates Lewis' enthusiasm and the way he actually cares about the patients.
In the end, he is helping him as much as he can to get the performance ready and
keeping the secret of their play from the administrator.
One of the final scenes after the production is extremely touching.
Despite the fact that there is only one word of dialogue in the whole scene, I has to be
one of my favourites. I think it summed up the whole tone of the film and the
feelings the characters went through when it was all over. It didn't need many
words.
It was a fantastic film.
My Favourite Quotes:
"Alright... heads the dyke, tales Orson
Wells..."
Errol to he panel selecting the drama supervisor/director as he toss' the coin to
see who gets the job.
"Stay calm and don't upset the patients.
They are on varying degrees of medication. But don't let that worry you, just worry
about the ones who aren't."
Errol to Lewis about the patients.
Lewis: "So you obviously think they're
quite capable of doing this?"
Errol: "Of course I do son. None of them can sing and the orchestra is
comatose. I'm looking forward to it."
about the prospect of performing Cosi
Errol: "You did well."
To Lewis. (One of my favourite scenes)