Synopsis

In Glasgow, recovering alcoholic Joe Kavanagh is trying to rebuild his life while managing an amateur soccer team and staying sober. He falls for Sarah, a health worker whose commitment to helping vulnerable people brings them together. Their relationship is tested by poverty, addiction, violence, and the limited choices facing the people around them.

Factoids & Trivia

• The title refers to the introduction Joe gives at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: "My name is Joe, and I'm an alcoholic."

• The film was the second collaboration between screenwriter Paul Laverty and Ken Loach, following Carla's Song.

• Peter Mullan won the Best Actor award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. The film was shown in the festival's main competition.

• My Name Is Joe became the first recipient of the British Independent Film Award for Best British Independent Film at the inaugural 1998 ceremony.

• The production was filmed in one of Glasgow's poorest and most neglected neighborhoods, giving the story a strong connection to its social setting.

• The cast generally received the screenplay in sections rather than having the complete script in advance. This allowed important developments to remain unknown during filming and helped preserve spontaneous reactions.

• A scene involving a character's death was kept secret from the performer until shortly before it was filmed. The nighttime sequence was shot in heavy rain, and the performer had a serious fear of heights.

• The production used real locations, including a small fourth-floor flat. The limited space made lighting especially difficult.

• The filmmakers completed the shoot on schedule and under budget, leaving money available for additional work on the music.

• George Fenton's score was deliberately restrained. Loach wanted the drama and performances to create the emotional response rather than having the music tell the audience how to react.