Gabriel & Me
Encyclopedia
Gabriel and Me is a 2001 film
starring Iain Glen
, Sean Landless
and Billy Connolly
as the angel
Gabriel
. It originated from the British
play
I Luv You Jimmy Spud
. Some outdoor scenes were filmed in North East England
including the Roker pier in Sunderland.
. Ever since his father threw him high in the air from South Shields
pier, he dreamt of being able to fly, and specifically of being an angel.
He lives with his brutish but terminally ill father, played by Iain Glen
, his mother (Rosie Rowell
) and philosophical grandfather (David Bradley
). He is bullied at school.
Whilst "praying" in a derelict and abandoned church one day, Jimmy is visited by Gabriel (Billy Connolly
), who advises him on how to become an angel.
He goes home and sows a multitude of feathers onto an old dress and goes wandering around the docks. We next see him on the absolute top of a tower crane, watching a boy cycling below. The boy skids and lands in the water. Jimmy sees his chance to prove himself and dives in to rescue him. The boy, a Pakistani boy scout
, thanks him and they become friends.
Jimmy practices "flying" by jumping off a plank, and is seen to hover unnaturally long, as if achieving his aim.
His dad discovers the new pair of friends in the bedroom one day, with Jimmy in his "dress", he his furious and smashes a trumpet Jimmy had borrowed from school for angel practice.
Jimmy's grandfather sells his himing pigeons to buy Jimmy a new trumpet.
Dad's illness (seemingly lung cancer) worsens and he goes into hospital. Jimmy is told that he will not return. He visits dad in hospital wearing his angel dress and plays Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
on the trumpet.
Disillusioned by his father's death he burns the angel dress. However Gabriel returns and explains that he has met his goal.
The film ends with the famous throw on the jetty which inspired Jimmy so much.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
starring Iain Glen
Iain Glen
Iain Glen is a Scottish film and stage actor.Iain Glen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and trained at RADA where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He was married to Susannah Harker from 1993 to 2004; they have one son, Finlay...
, Sean Landless
Sean Landless
Sean Landless is an English actor who plays the lead role in the 2001 film, Gabriel & Me.-External links:...
and Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly
William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
as the angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
Gabriel
Gabriel
In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is an Archangel who typically serves as a messenger to humans from God.He first appears in the Book of Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel's visions. In the Gospel of Luke Gabriel foretells the births of both John the Baptist and of Jesus...
. It originated from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
I Luv You Jimmy Spud
I Luv You Jimmy Spud
I luv you Jimmy Spud is a play set in Newcastle upon Tyne by British playwright Lee Hall starring Michael Walpert as Stephen . Originally commissioned by BBC Radio Four, it was first broadcast in 1995...
. Some outdoor scenes were filmed in North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
including the Roker pier in Sunderland.
Synopsis
Jimmy Spud is a young loner living in the Byker WallByker Wall
The Byker Wall is the name given to a long unbroken block of 620 maisonettes in the Byker district of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The block was designed by the notable architect Ralph Erskine assisted by Vernon Gracie, and was built in the mid-1970s. The Wall, along with the low rise dwellings...
. Ever since his father threw him high in the air from South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
pier, he dreamt of being able to fly, and specifically of being an angel.
He lives with his brutish but terminally ill father, played by Iain Glen
Iain Glen
Iain Glen is a Scottish film and stage actor.Iain Glen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and trained at RADA where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He was married to Susannah Harker from 1993 to 2004; they have one son, Finlay...
, his mother (Rosie Rowell
Rosie Rowell
Rosie Rowell is a British actress, probably best known for her roles as Eileen Callan in Family Affairs and Donna Tucker in Soldier Soldier...
) and philosophical grandfather (David Bradley
David Bradley (actor)
David Bradley is an English character actor. He has recently become known for playing the caretaker of Hogwarts, Argus Filch, in the Harry Potter film franchise.-Life and career :...
). He is bullied at school.
Whilst "praying" in a derelict and abandoned church one day, Jimmy is visited by Gabriel (Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly
William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
), who advises him on how to become an angel.
He goes home and sows a multitude of feathers onto an old dress and goes wandering around the docks. We next see him on the absolute top of a tower crane, watching a boy cycling below. The boy skids and lands in the water. Jimmy sees his chance to prove himself and dives in to rescue him. The boy, a Pakistani boy scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
, thanks him and they become friends.
Jimmy practices "flying" by jumping off a plank, and is seen to hover unnaturally long, as if achieving his aim.
His dad discovers the new pair of friends in the bedroom one day, with Jimmy in his "dress", he his furious and smashes a trumpet Jimmy had borrowed from school for angel practice.
Jimmy's grandfather sells his himing pigeons to buy Jimmy a new trumpet.
Dad's illness (seemingly lung cancer) worsens and he goes into hospital. Jimmy is told that he will not return. He visits dad in hospital wearing his angel dress and plays Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is a historic African-American spiritual. The first recording was in 1909, by the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University....
on the trumpet.
Disillusioned by his father's death he burns the angel dress. However Gabriel returns and explains that he has met his goal.
The film ends with the famous throw on the jetty which inspired Jimmy so much.