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The Long Day Closes (film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Long Day Closes' is a 1992 British film written and directed by Terence Davies. It stars Marjorie Yates, Leigh McCormack and Anthony Watson. It was entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
Plot
The film is set in Liverpool in the mid-1950s. The story concerns a shy twelve-year-old boy, Bud, and his loving mother and siblings. He lives a life rich in imagination, centred on family relationships, church, and his struggles at school. Music and snatches of movie dialogue allow him to enrich his narrow physical environment. "Together these fragments", wrote Stephen Holden in 'The New York Times', "evoke a postwar England starved for beauty, fantasy and a place to escape."
Cast
* Marjorie Yates - Mother
* Leigh McCormack - Bud
* Anthony Watson - Kevin
* Nicholas Lamont - John
* Ayse Owens - Helen
* Tina Malone - Edna
* Jimmy Wilde - Curly
* Robin Polley - Mr. Nicholls
* Pete Ivatts - Mr. Bushell
* Joy Blakeman - Frances
* Denise Thomas - Jean
* Patricia Morrison - Amy
* Gavin Mawdslay - Billy
* Kirk McLaughlin - Labourer / Christ
* Mark Heath - Black Man
Music
The film uses 35 pieces of music, and uses the rendition of songs by Nat King Cole
Critic David Thomson in his April 2007 review of the film in the British Film Institute's 'Sight & Sound' magazine draws attention to the music that was used in the film, in particular "at the end of the film ... that mackerel sky and Sir Arthur Sullivan's 'The Long Day Closes' itself"[http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/49363 David Thomson: 'Sound and Fury:Terence Davies', 'Sight and Sound', April, 2007.] sung by Pro Cantione Antiqua.[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/pro-cantione-antiqua-q47060/biography allmusic: Pro Cantione Antiqua - Biography]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 83% approval rating based on reviews from 12 critics, with an average rating of 7 out of 10. On Metacritic, the film received a weighted average score of 85/100 based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
A 2009 appreciation said:
"Together these fragments", wrote Stephen Holden in 'The New York Times', "evoke a postwar England starved for beauty, fantasy and a place to escape."
Awards & Nominations
References
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