Brian and Charles is a 2022 comedy-drama directed by Jim Archer, from a screenplay by David Earl and Chris Hayward. Earl and Hayward also star in the film. The rights were acquired by Focus Features at the Sundance Film Festival where it was a 2022 Official Selection. Archer, in his directorial debut also edited, developed and co-funded the film with Film4 and the BFI. He got his start shooting comedy sketches with friends before writing and directing several short films which resulted in winning gold at the Young Director Awards in Cannes for the short film version of Brian and Charles.

Brian, a lonely inventor in rural Wales, spends his days building quirky, unconventional contraptions that seldom work. Undeterred by his lack of success, Brian attempts his biggest project yet. Three days, a washing machine, and various spare parts later, he's invented Charles, an artificially intelligent robot who learns English from a dictionary and has an obsession with cabbages. What follows is a humorous and entirely heartwarming story about friendship, family, finding love, and letting go.

In addition to screenwriters David Earl and Chris Hayward, the cast also includes Louise Brealey, Jamie Michie, and Nina Sosanya.

Brian and Charles made it’s debut in select theaters on June 17th, courtesy of Focus Features.

THE GOOD

I am a complete sucker for a good indie film, especially when it manages to snag an official selection at the crem de la crem of film festivals, The Sundance Film Festival, which is no easy feat. Aside from the fact that as a fan of film I like to support the genuine creativity that tends to come into play within the indie film circuit, I also appreciate original ideas which can be tough to come by in the modern era of filmmaking. When I first started hearing rumblings about Brian and Charles after its debut at Sundance, I couldn’t wait for the trailer to drop. Once it did, the infectious feel of the film as well as the fantastic setting of rural Wales had me rearing and ready to go. All I could do was hope that the film found its way to a theater near me, and I was pumped to find out that it would release opening day in a theater nearby known for indie films that I hadn’t visited in years. I blocked off a day to go and see Brian and Charles, but was it worth the annoyance of $15 parking and the hustle and bustle of the “big city”?! Keep reading to find out!

I am pleased to report that I really and genuinely enjoyed Brian and Charles. To say that it is a unique film would be a severe understatement, but I mean that in the best way possible. The film opens with what essentially feels like a meet and greet of sorts with the oddly charismatic and highly unsuccessful inventor Brian, who lives a very lonely and isolated life in rural Wales. Because a good portion of the film includes just Brian, especially in the beginning, he narrates and sets the stage for the film in a very The Office sort of way. Brian welcomes viewers into his home and his makeshift cow shed turned into a workshop, and proceeds to show off his rather ridiculous inventions, from a pine cone bag which he is quick to explain is just a bag with pine cones glued on it, to his egg belt, which is you guessed it, a belt that holds eggs. When he has an idea, he makes that idea a reality, no matter how ridiculous that idea may seem, and if you ask me there is something inspirational in that. Brian’s willingness to keep on keepin’ on after so many failed inventions is what leads him to creating what will soon become his very best friend, a robot with a washing machine body that seems to like the name Charles.

Things start out a bit slow at first but the fun really starts once Charles comes into the picture. Not only is his body made from scratch, literally, so is everything else about him so he must be taught everything. Although I still for the life of me can’t figure out how he actually consumed food, Charles seemed to really enjoy cabbage. I like me some cabbage in a boiled ham dinner, but the train stops there. Sorry, I’m getting off track. My favorite thing about the movie is watching this unique relationship between Brain and Charles develop, it is really something special. Any parent will relate right away to Charles and his innate infatuation with disobedience especially when he isn’t getting his way, but that part of the relationship is overshadowed by the special bond that forms between man and robot. Brian has been quite lonely for a long time and it almost feels surreal that he finally has a companion to the point where he is too scared to expose Charles to the rest of his small town, worried someone may take him away. Brian does his best to protect Charles while teaching him all about the world, and even doing his best to reassure him when Charles develops a fear of birds. But seriously, their relationship and the ups and downs that they navigate feels so well-intentioned and real, and I just enjoyed watching it all unfold. I was drawn to Brian from the start as he is just someone you can’t help but root for, so watching him finally find what he has been looking for in his life feels pretty damn good.

Bottom line, without the inspired performances from the leads in Brian and Charles, this film would simply fall on its face. Everything and I mean everything, runs through the performances from David Earl and Chris Hayward. Whether it be the back and forth banter between the two or the combination of Charles’ robot voice and hilarious mannerisms, it was all just so good. Earl offers up one of the most charismatic and wholesome performances I have seen in quite a long time, and he won me over immediately. Even though he plays this lonely and quite honestly very odd guy, you can’t help but feed off his energy and relentless positivity. He is that friend you want to be around just because they have such an infectious personality, plus you also know it is okay to laugh at them from time to time because they will be laughing right along with you. Once Hayward joins the party as the fun-loving and sometimes rebellious robot, things really take off. The relationship between Brian and Charles is without a doubt the driving force for the entire message of the film, and it absolutely hit home for me. I thought Earl and Hayward were magical together, and I cannot wait to see what they do next. I also really liked Louise Brealey in an important supporting role as she had great chemistry with Earl, and also enjoyed Jamie Michie as the film’s primary antagonist. Lynn Hunter was a very sweet supporting character as well.

The technical elements of Brian and Charles are surprisingly impressive, especially for such a small-scale indie film. I thought the camera work and cinematography were fantastic, taking full advantage of the rural Wales setting. Each shot felt very well-intentioned, from the aerial driving shots to the intimate close-ups that made viewers feel like they were involved with what was happening on-screen. I was also very pleased with the score and soundtrack which for me was a massive driving force for the film. Brian and Charles is all about that offbeat tone and it all comes together so well here. All and all, a very solid technical package.

THE BAD

Okay so bottom line, Brian and Charles is not for everyone, and that’s okay. You won’t find me bashing this film but I also want to keep expectations in check for people who are considering giving it a shot. It is a comedy-drama that really is a pretty even balance of both, and even though there is plenty of laughs and giggles to be had, they mostly come from a dry sense of humor. The overall identity of the film is pretty clear from the start so you’ll know if it’s something you can get into within the first 5-minutes. It is also a very small-scale film in terms of the cast as well as the filming location. With that being said I also can’t see anyone justifying this as a “bad film”, even if it maybe isn’t something that is entertaining for them on a personal level. Brian and Charles, like filmmaking in general, is a well-crafted piece of art that thrives on its unique sensibilities and authentic feel.

THE VERDICT

A quirky indie comedy-drama that explores the unique friendship between a lonely inventor and his newly-built robot companion, Brian and Charles is a sweet and in many ways inspirational story that will surely leave its mark on viewers who embark on this special journey. David Earl and Chris Hayward are unique talents who deserve to be celebrated. The film reminds us to appreciate the little things in life and to always be on the lookout for something incredible in the unlikeliest of places. I keep catching myself wanting to use the word quirky over and over again when I describe this film but it really is the best word to use. Quirky in the sense that it is unique, imaginative, simple yet well-rounded, and just an experience that viewers who are willing to give it a chance will absolutely appreciate by the time the end credits hit the screen. I felt very satisfied with Brian and Charles and judging by the fact that the majority of the other people in the theater remained seated during the first half of the credits, I would say they felt the same way. If you can find it playing somewhere near you, I would take the time to check it out.