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The C Word
Heartbroken, ageing and living in a converted shed, it's time for Alan to make a change. Through radical therapy and stubborn determination, can Alan rid himself of his crippling fear of commitment and win back the love of his life?
Plot Details
A hopeless romantic yet terrified of commitment, The C Word sees the plight and determination of Alan, a man desperate to overcome his crippling commitment issues and reunite himself with the love of his life.
With the help of a radical support group, Alan embarks on a journey to face the biggest challenge of his life - learning to commit. The film finds Alan in the middle of a terrifying team building exercise. Led by Simon, their devoted councillor, the petrified support group attempt to cross a hectic, busy road.
Unfortunately, dodging screeching cars and absorbing Simon's motivational speeches proves too much pressure for the feeble group. After a torrent of abuse from infuriated drivers, a tragic accident occurs. This puts Alan and the group back at square one, as we find them exhausted and injured in the support group hall.
During a sharing session, we learn about Alan's motivation for joining the support group; his desperate desire to get back with Melanie, his ex girlfriend. To aid him in his quest for commitment, Alan is presented with the responsibility to take care of an unlikely pet.
We find Alan back in his bachelor pad, distressed and exhausted. His wallowing in self pity is cut short by the arrival of his neighbour, Kathy. A holistic freelance therapist, Kathy is well versed in the art of listening and pouring green tea.
Kathy and Alan sit for a while discussing his tormented past and uncertain future. Deciding to make a change, Alan vows to learn to commit.
Alan in the commitaphobic support group. Having sprinted to Melanie's, Alan collapses outside her house. Luckily her topless fitness instructor, Chris, opens the door to give him a hand up. Melanie, angry but sympathetic, assures Alan that despite his best intentions, the relationship is over. Alan leaves the house empty handed and broken hearted.
Walking through his suburban town, Alan notices a variety of men who share his need for change. A lonesome man studies an engagement ring as another has an emotional breakdown at a restaurant, unable to commit to any meal on the menu.
Defeated and humiliated, Alan solemnly heads home. On his walk, he rounds a corner to see a woman standing on the very cross-road that started his journey. She is clutching desperately at a tank of Sea Monkeys - the same pet Alan was asked to care for. Clearly she is also a commitaphobe in therapy, tasked with looking after the strange creatures. Hesitantly, Alan approaches and offers his hand. They silently contemplate their situation before summoning the courage to cross the road, together.
Director's statement
James Dann's inspiration to make The C Word came from people continuously telling him how afraid of commitment they were. Be it friends, Uber drivers or the very rare person he matched with on Tinder; everyone seemed to be wanting a relationship but not being able to commit themselves to it. He found this a hilarious and startlingly accurate representation of modern day dating. The want to be with someone, but having the fear of feeling 'trapped with them if it goes badly' seemed to be a prevalent theme. More often than not, this ended up in people being habitually single, as a result of worrying over an alluded fear of entrapment which may never happen. So, in response to this theory, he decided to make a film on it.
| Matt Aistrup | Alan |
| Tracy Gabbitas | Melanie |
| Paul Wilson | Simon |
| Sarah Legg | Kathy |
| Noel Wilson | Jeff |
| Dominic McCavish | Steve |
| Khurram Yaseen | Chris |
| Thamizh Thendral | Menu Reader |
| Vincent Stable | Ring Contemplator |
| Sully O'Sullivan | Street Collector |
| Gemma Richardson | Commitaphobe Woman |
| Ollie Ewin | House Party Dancer |
| Sarah Hicks | Camembert Mother |
| Rory Hicks | Camembert |
| Emma Laidlaw | Angry Driver 1 |
| Andy Green | Angry Driver 2 |
| Stuart Rees | Angry Driver 3 |
| Julian Leiner | Angry Driver 4 |
| James Dann | Street Collector Signer |
| Dom Old | Charity Worker 2 |
| James Dann | Writer |
| James Dann | Director |
| James Dann | Producer |
| Dan Thorburn | Producer |
| Michael Westwood | Editor |
| Dan Thorburn | Director of Photography |
| Joe Knowles | Composer |
| Grace Gibson | Composer |
| Mitch Gardner | Composer |
| Husain Abul | Sound Designer |