Displaying items by tag: Emily Watson

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE

Ireland, 2024, 95 minutes, Colour.

Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh, Zara Devlin, Emily Watson, Michelle Fairlry.

Directed by Tim Mielants.

This film is based on the Booker-prize nominee by Irish novelist, Claire Keegan. Another of her stories, Foster, was filmed as The Quiet Girl, the dialogue in Gaelic. She is a multi-award-winning novelist.

The setting for this film is a town in Ireland, 1985. At the centre is a very serious man, Will, who is a coal deliverer in the town. He is married, a sympathetic wife, played by Eileen Walsh, and household of daughters. He is played by Cillian Murphy, Oscar-winner at this time for Oppenheimer but a veteran of more than 30 years of Irish and international films. Here is a powerful performance but the performance is greatly enhanced by the way that he is photographed throughout the film, so often close-ups, extreme close-ups of his face, the silent body language communicating his experiences, many sad memories, difficulties in the present, dark and brooding.

For an intense film about Ireland, it has been directed by Belgian director, Tim Mielants, who worked with Cillian Murphy directing six episodes of the series, Peaky Blinders, as well as making the intense war film about the German occupation of Antwerp, Wil. Actor and director worked together in their next film, Steve.

There are quite a number of flashbacks to Will and his boyhood, his unmarried mother and their being taken on by a wealthy and kindly widow. Nevertheless, some harsh treatment by the children at school, emphasising his isolation, his self-doubt.

His work is delivering coal, his oldest daughter working with the accounts. His wife is sympathetic, but not always appreciating the depths of his inner thoughts and feelings.

What brings this to a head is the experience of his finding one of the young women who are unmarried and pregnant and committed to the care of nuns in what were called the Magdalenes. She is Sarah and has been locked in the coal room and he discovers her. He brings her out, some confrontations with the nuns, an encounter with the superior, played by Emily Watson. Emily Watson’s Sister Mary embodies those characteristics, many good, many far too severe, of superiors in past times. She is in control, demanding, wanting discipline, actually encouraging a harsh regime, structures, hard work, discipline, the sisters in the convent to exercise this kind of control.

In 2002, Peter Mullan directed The Magdalene Sisters, a strong expose of those times. Small Things like These is a significant companion film.

In his interview with Sister Mary, who knows the family well, she is able to threaten, cajole, control, Will begins to brood even more on the  the nuns, the church, unmarried mothers, the fate of the children, his sense of duty, a sense of responsibility.

As the film moves in this direction, Will rescuing Sarah a second time, taking her home, their walking down the corridor of his house to…, the film abruptly stops, surprising the audience in their reflections, emotional responses, which they now have to take out from their film experience to ponder.

1. The reputation of the novel by Claire Keegan? The adaptation, short running time, the focus on characters, 1985 and the situations, the flashbacks?
2. Ireland, 1985, families, home life, father, mother, the daughters, the small home, the family life? The father and the delivery of the coal?
3. Life in the town, the Catholic Church, Christmastime, in the church? The nuns?
4. The gradual revelation about the institutions for the Magdalenes, young girls, unmarried mothers, sent by their parents and family, the hardships, the hard work, domestic, laundries, cooking, the pregnancies, the babies? The role of the nuns, the severity, discipline, harsh treatment, Sarah locked in the coal room? The role of the superior, seeing her with the priest, the interview with Will, the awkward situation, her knowledge of him and the family, his daughters and the school, the fees? The money gift for his wife? Her warning him away? Her treatment of Sarah, seemingly benign, the wash, food? Sarah again in the cold room? The film’s judgement on the sisters, the Catholic Church and severity, judgmental on the young women, treatment of them?
5. Will as a person, the flashbacks to his past, his mother, the bond with her, the reaction of the other children, their treatment of him, the spit on his coat? His mother cleaning it off? Taken in by Mrs Wilson, Mrs Wilson and her wealth, the household, the kindness to Will and his mother? The effect on Will as he grew up?
6. The adult Will as a personality, quiet, brooding, relationship with his wife, the domestic scenes, with his children, the oldest and her accountancy, the interaction with the others, music, the meals, happy times? And the memories of his past? His devotion to his work? Other friends in the town, communication, the visit to the pub?
7. The impact of finding Sophie with the coal, having glimpsed her with her parents and her reluctance? Rescuing her, the interview with Sister Mary, Sister Mary and her manipulation of the conversation, affirmation, yet threats, the gift of the money?
8. Sarah and her difficulties again, Will and his rescue, bring her to the home, preparing to walk down the corridor, to…?
9. The suddenness, abruptness of the ending, the audience processing all that has gone before, anticipation of what is to come, taking this away for reflection after viewing the film?

MIDAS MAN

UK, 2024, 112 minutes, Colour.

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Eddie Marsan, Emily Watson, Bill Milner, Jonah Lees, Ed Speleers, Eddie Izzard, Milo Parker.

Directed by Joe Stephenson.

The release of Midas Man coincides with the 60^th anniversary of the Beatles taking America by storm. Five years earlier, the four young physicians from Liverpool were playing in local clubs, going over to Hamburg, prospect of spending their lives playing in local venues. But, this is not what happened. And the reason? Entrepreneur Brian Epstein.

In the many stories and histories of the Beatles, Brian Epstein is a presence, sometimes upfront, more frequently behind the scenes. But here is a film that brings him centre-screen. It is his personal story. But, it is the story of a man with great energy, an eye for talent, and a commitment to the promotion of this talent.

He is played by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (and Fortune making a connection with the Midas touch).

Epstein belonged to a prominent Liverpool family, Jewish, very successful in retail business, pressure from his father, Eddie Marsan, support from his mother, Emily Watson. He has an ear for contemporary music. He has an eye for talent, claiming that the store could deliver any record from any place in the world within five days. And he receives a request, a record the local lads, going to see them in one of the Liverpool clubs.

As regards the Beatles and their songs, their singing is included but not their songs, just references to them. But, there is a focus on them as personalities, the supporting cast of young actors who resemble him quite tellingly so that there is no puzzle as to who is who, a special commendation for Jonah Lees as John Lennon, his singing, his leadership, humour, his quips.

Initially the Beatles were rather wary, cocky 20-year-olds (with John Lennon only 20 more years of life, with Sir Paul McCartney still with us) considering Brian Epstein particularly posh, a different league from their own experience. However, they agree to a meeting, an audition, Epstein working hard, their being turned down by every record company but given a hearing by George Martin (who does appear later in the film but was their supportive producer).

The film also touches on Brian Epstein’s managing Gerry and the Pacemakers and some sequences with another protégé, Cilla Black. Since the film is about Epstein more than the Beatles, it shows his efforts, the contact with Ed Sullivan and persuading him to feature the Beatles, leading to their number one on the charts as well as their American success.

But, Epstein is a complex character, workaholic and driven, touches of gambling, relying on drink and an increasing number of pills to keep him going. And, there is the issue of his sexual orientation, the status of British law on homosexuals at that the period, episodes of cruising, police pursuit, blackmail, relationships and betrayal. And the response of his parents, the death of his father, his father’s reticence in praising him, his reliance on his mother.

Brian Epstein died of an accidental overdose of drugs when he was only 32. A successful life, but a successful life cut very short.

1. Memories of the Beatles? 60 years later? And memories of Brian Epstein?
2. The popularity of the Beatles in the 1960s, origins in Liverpool, playing in Hamburg, Liverpool clubs, their age, musical talent, cheekiness, the discovery by Brian Epstein, the consequences, auditions, promotions, records, worldwide…?
3. The Liverpool settings, the Epstein family, the home, the shop, record sales, the synagogue? The clubs and music, the fans? London, the recording offices, interviews? The growing success, the trips to America? The fans? The Ed Sullivan show? Epstein’s private life, the cruising at night, the police, the law, reputations?
4. The title, Brian Epstein and his success, his talent for recognising musical trends, his shop, records from anywhere in five days? His work ethic, the pressure from his father, comparisons with his mother, support from his mother? The scene of discussion in the synagogue and his ambitions to do greater things? His father’s distance, criticisms, private pride, the issue of his son’s sexuality, use of blackmail, reputation?
5. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd’s presence and performance, making Brian Epstein credible? Breaking the fourth wall, talking to the audience, confiding in the audience, explanations? His age, entrepreneurial skills, Alastair as his assistant, the request for Beatles records, going to the club, the impact, recognising their talent? Meeting them afterwards, local lads, way of speaking, John Lennon and his quips, seeing Epstein as posh? His invitation to meet them? Their coming to the office, Alastair and his reaction, the opening up of possibilities?
6. Epstein and his approaching the various record companies, the audition tape, the rejection by all the companies, the aristocratic club and their laughing at the idea of their success? The approach to George Martin, Epstein influencing him, George Martin producing their records – and their indebtedness to Martin, and the glimpse of him in the film for the first worldwide satellite performance?
7. The portrayal of the Beatles themselves, the actors and their sufficient similarity to each Beatle? Paul and his music, George the background, Pete Best and the drumming, the criticisms, Epstein and the interview with him and his being fired? Ringo Starr, coming into the group, his comic style? John Lennon and his humour, remarks, getting into trouble, the more popular than Jesus statement, at the Royal Command Performance the poor clapping and the rich jangling their jewellery?
8. Epstein, his manner, his education, his accent? His sexual orientation and the times? On the streets, the encounters, the police and the chasing? The man robbing him of his watch? The letters and asking for money? His being set up with Tex, the meeting, infatuation, the relationship, in America, Tex taking the money?
9. Epstein going to the US, the contacts in America, their friendship, setting him up, the interview with Ed Sullivan, money issues, persuasion, the results, number one on the charts, the visit to America, success? Emblematic of the Beatles in the mid-60s? The intimations of the later changes, not wanting to travel, the satellite program, the break up?
10. Indications of success with other groups, Gerry and the Pacemakers, especially with Cilla Black, her talent, discussions with her, especially at the party?
11. Epstein is workaholic, at all hours, intense, discussions with his parents, support of his mother? His father’s death, his mother saying that his father appreciated him? The drinking, intimations of gambling, the pills?
12. Report of the overdose, death at 32? The success of the Beatles with their talent but depending on his entrepreneurial skills?