‘The Agent’ – a film from Pinter and Martin

This is a must see film for any aspiring writer – and anyone involved in the publishing industry. Naturally symbiotic professions are pitched head to head in this taut psychological drama revealing the ugly underbellies of writers and their agents. Stephen, the once published but barely sold writer has submitted his second manuscript to his agent, Alexander who unfortunately does not believe in the commercial viability of Stephen’s new work. Four months after Stephen has submitted his final draft, Alexander calls him in for a meeting. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse where Stephen’s desperation to be published leads him to illegally force his agent to work harder to sell his book. It’s proactivity gone mad but with both of the characters’ personal happiness and professional success at stake, things finally begin to happen and during the conflict our perceptions and the truisms of this industry are put under the spotlight.

Alexander is a salesperson, highly commercially aware and time-poor. Stephen is ambitious, creative, compulsive and struggling with his self-belief and his doubts. He asks a great deal of questions of the purpose and integrity of literary agency. He feels impotent in the face of their power – at one point he refers to them as “a bridge – because most writers can’t swim”. He also says they should be a kind of Robin Hood, ensuring the best work is in front of the readers. Alexander in contrast feels impotent in the face of market forces. He admits himself that he “peddles a lot of rubbish”. Best-selling, confident, productive published writers are almost mythical creatures in this story which generates a great deal of sympathy for both parts. Who’s worst off? The impoverished but talented writer who can’t seem to get a break or the agent that works all hours in a machine which is driven by sales and hype, where they are bombarded, bullied and stalked by Stephens on a daily basis?

It’s painfully humorous to watch the writer struggle with his fears and the agent’s judgements and rather horrifying to see how much perception and manipulation may contribute to success in this industry. Ultimately I hope, as Stephen and Alexander both do, and believe that the readers have the final say, but for Stephen to be read, he must get through this gatekeeper.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film – it reminded me very much of The Interview with Sienna Miller and Steve Buscemi where an actress and a journalist are consumed by a similar battle, one to one in a compressed time frame and the rules of engagement and power dynamic change so often you are left feeling giddy. This film, The Agent, stars William Beck, Stephen Kennedy and includes a wonderful scene from Maureen Lipman.

Here are some things other sources had to say about it:

“I doubt a more truthful film exists in relation to the literary world and if it does it could hardly be more energetic, funny or stylish.” Robert Monk – Clash

“The two leads are superb” London Evening Standard

“Sharp, funny and engrossing” Film Four

***** Five stars from me; an awesome view of a complex industry with a tightly twisting plot.