Sunset Song.

Based on the classic 1932 novel Sunset Song by the writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon widely regarded as one of the most important Scottish novels of the 20th century a novel rooted in the landscape of Aberdeenshire. It was the first part of a trilogy A Scots Quair all of which have been adapted for BBC TV. The central character of the trilogy is the boyishly attractive Chris Guthrie who in this adaptation is brought wonderfully to life by Agyness Deyn who you may remember had the lead role in 2013’s Electricity.

 

The hard slog just to stay above the poverty line.

Set in the fictional estate of Kinraddie in The Mearns, Kincardineshire at the start of the 20^th century and taking in the Great War, Sunset Song (2015) tackles the hardship of rural Scottish crofting life where people toil the land just to stay above poverty level and how most woman had a subservient role in society being at their husbands beck and call to keep house, have sex and rear children. Family life in the Guthrie household is dominated by her brutal father John (a chilling Peter Mullan) a religious bigot who seems to get his enjoyment from taking the belt to his son Will (Jack Greenlees) and bullying his wife Jean (Daniela Nardini). It’s the young and intelligent Chris Guthrie who hopes for more from life - but tragic circumstances intercede.

 

Will Chris exchange one type of servitude for another?

Soon after directing The House of Mirth (2000) Liverpool born master filmmaker Terence Davies along with others planned an adaptation of Grassic Gibbon’s novel but because of problems raising the necessary finance did not start production on the film until 2014, Davies had first fallen in love with the story in 1971 when it was shown on the BBC and starred EastEnders actress Vivian Heilbron as Chris.  During this hiatus Davies made two films, the first a documentary commissioned to mark Liverpool’s year as European City of Culture and recalling Davies’s life growing up in Liverpool in the 1950’s and 60’s. Of Time and the City (2008) used newsreel and documentary footage with a voice over from the director. After this he adapted Terence Rattigan’s 1952 play of the same name The Deep Blue Sea (2011).

 

We must stop meeting like this!

Although imbedded with typical Terence Davies trademarks and the socialist heart found in his earlier work’s Distant Voice, Still Lives (1988) and to a slightly lesser extent in The Long Day Closes (1992), which both included snapshots of ‘real’ life family experiences, births, marriage and death all blighted by a sadistic patriarch and of course the required sing along, but it’s the slow pacing of Sunset Song that blights the later part of the film. People familiar with the great mans work will know that Davies characteristically does not rush his direction allowing us to saviour his scripts but in this case it seems just a wee bit too prolonged. But please don’t think this is bad movie, quite the contrary, it’s an excellent film, beautifully shot and a worthy addition to the directors oeuvre.

Electricity.

Epilepsy is not a subject you will find tackled in many feature films, the only one that come’s to mine (although I suspect there are more) was Anton Corbijn’s Control (2007) which was the biopic about the life, and subsequent death, of Joy Divisions lead singer Ian Curtis who suffered from depression as well as epilepsy. Curtis hung himself at the age of 23 from a clothesline in his own kitchen!

The word Epilepsy, I’m reliable informed by the Internet, comes from an ancient Greek verb meaning ‘to seize, possess, or afflict’.  It’s a neurological disorder that manifests itself  “by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain”.

Co-indecently Electricity (2014), a British independent movie. is the name of this weeks Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre Film Club screening. Directing and producing his debut feature film is Bryn Higgins, a man who can normally be found working on television drama series.[1]  The film is based on Ray Robinson[2] superb novel that is being re-issued to coincide with film's release. It has been adapted for the big screen by Joe Fisher.

 

Lily O'Connor.

The story is seen through the eyes of a vulnerable young woman, Lily O’Connor who has suffered, despite heavy medication, from an epileptic condition since she was six years old when her alcoholic mother threw her down the stairs but she refuses to be defined by her illness. It’s when her mother dies and she comes into an inheritance that the story really takes shape. Her older brother Barry, although not happy, agrees that there younger brother Mickey should get a share. The problem is that the wayward Mickey lives down south in London[3] and Lily does not have his address. But even so she leaves the familiarity and security of her North-east England seaside town[4] and sets out to find her younger brother.

We have a stunning central performance from Agyness Deyn who stars in her first leading role as Lily O’Connor, successfully infusing the character with equal amounts of attitude, charisma and vulnerability, and a character with which the audience can easily identify. The 31-year-old Manchester born Deyn is best known as a fashion model and has appeared on the cover of the Vogue magazine. She has also appeared in Clash of the Titans in 2010 and in 2012 appeared opposite Richard Cole in the English language remake of Pusher.[5] She is also appearing in Terence Davies next movie Sunset Song along side Film Club favourite Peter Mullan. Lily’s brother Barry is played by Paul Anderson, who you will no doubt recognise from his role as the psychopathic Arthur Shelby in TV’s Peaky Blinders.  Lenora Crichlow, who stars in the BBC series Being Human, plays Lily’s friend Mel and I’m sure you will also recognise Alice Lowe from Ben Wheatley’s black comedy Sightseers (2012).[6]

 

Lily with brother Barry.

In a seven-week shoot the director set out to produce a powerful two-fold story, one of which is too enter the headspace of a young epileptic woman and the second is how she sets out in a search of her errant brother. This visual drama succeeds in in both cases. This meaningful and touching film combines strong, witty human drama with remarkable visual effects to create an immersive and compelling cinematic experience. Shot beautifully by Si Bell the colours, shots, framing and style of the photography is breath taking. The editing, special effects, supporting cast, locations, wardrobe, make up, production design, even the title credits are all stunningly crafted.

A significant amount of the funding for the film came from the Wellcome Trust, the medical charity. Also input was provided from the Epilepsy Society throughout the whole process of scripting shooting and editing. They also had a medical advisor on set.

 

Off kilter Alice in Wonderland.

Described an off kilter Alice In Wonderland for the modern day, it’s socially real, gritty, thought provoking and interesting naturalistic drama, which at times trips into the avant-garde, apparently influenced by the work of Stan Brakhage[7]. Glasgow born John Lunn who has won awards for his musical work on Downton Abbey composed the original soundtrack.

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[1] Including Casualty 1909, Casualty 1907 and Silent Witness.

[2] Who did have an input into the adaptation.

[3] Lily’s trip to London is reflecting the Alice going down the rabbit hole and her journey through wonderland.

[4] Shot on location in Saltburn on Sea, Cleveland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Co Durham Hospital and London. 

[5] The Danish original was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and released in 1996. 

[6] Which she also co-wrote along side Steve Oram.

[7] An American non-narrative filmmaker who is considered to be one of the most important figures in 20th-century experimental film.