In the Bleak Midwinter (film)

In the Bleak Midwinter
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Produced by David Barron
Written by Kenneth Branagh
Starring
Music by Jimmy Yuill
Cinematography Roger Lanser
Edited by Neil Farrell
Production
company
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release dates
 10 September 1995
Running time
 99 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Box office $469,571

In the Bleak Midwinter (also known as A Midwinter's Tale) is a 1995 British romantic comedy written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Many of the roles in the film were written for specific actors. This was the first film directed by Branagh in which he did not appear.

The film begins with a monologue by out-of-work actor Joe Harper (Michael Maloney) about his slow decline into depression. In an attempt to beat his depression, Joe volunteers to help try to save his sister's local church from land developers for the community by putting on a Christmas production of Hamlet, somewhat against the advice of his agent Margaretta. As the cast he assembles are still available even at Christmas and are prepared to do it on a 'profit sharing' basis (that is, they may not get paid anything), he cannot expect – and does not get – the cream of the cream. But although they all bring their own problems and foibles along, something bigger starts to emerge in the perhaps aptly named village of Hope. This film encapsulates the hilarious and heartbreaking struggle of actor versus situation versus life, and often versus each other. It was shot in black and white for artistic effect.[1]

Plot

The story is set in Hope, Derbyshire, England. It's Christmastime, and 'tis the season to put on Shakespeare's most cheery seasonal play: Hamlet. Joe Harper takes the project on as a Final Stand of sorts under the encouragement of his catty agent, advertising in the local newspaper for actors at a low price. From the rabble of actors both strange and untalented, he chooses the following:

Hamlet: Joe Harper himself.

Ophelia: Nina Raymond, a shortsighted well-meaning space cadet who has been using low-calorie mayonnaise for lotion because she can't make out the label.

King Claudius: Henry Wakefield, a long-suffering and cynical old Englishman with a sharp tongue and a list of prejudices five miles (8 km) long, forced to room with Queen Gertrude's player.

Queen Gertrude: Terry DuBois, a flamboyantly gay theatrical actor with an estranged son and a preoccupation for costume.

Laertes, Fortinbras, and various roles: Tom Newman, a vain, self-righteous method actor who foists his values on everyone else and attempts to distinguish his many characters with a variety of outrageous accents.

Horatio, Bernardo: Not-so-subtle Carnforth Greville, an alcoholic in denial and a kindly bachelor with no memory for lines whatsoever.

Polonius, Marcellus, and the First Gravedigger: Vernon Spatch, the ambitious techie's techie, self-imposed marketing director, and unofficial documentarian of the proceedings.

Set Designer: Fadge, just Fadge, specialising in new-age art and obscure statements about "air", "space", and "fog". Close friends call her "Fa".

Cast

Reception

Critical response

The film was well received by the majority of critics and currently holds an 89% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[2]

Roger Ebert, noted critic of the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the film three out of four stars, praising the performances and Branagh's screenplay.[3] Online critic James Berardinelli highly praised the film, giving it three-and-a-half out of four stars, stating, "No current film maker appears to love and understand Shakespeare as well as Branagh, and never has his affection for the Bard been more apparent than here. This picture succeeds as a comedy, a satire, and even, to a certain extent, as a mild melodrama about choosing between a paycheck and the nourishment of the soul." Berardinelli concluded, "Anyone who wondered about Branagh's future following Frankenstein can set their concerns to rest. He's back on top in the independent arena with A Midwinter's Tale, a film that offers ninety-eight minutes of pure fun re-interpreting the phrase 'the play's the thing'."[4]

Accolades

Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
Venice Film Festival Golden Osella Kenneth Branagh (tied with Abolfazl Jalili for Det Means Girl) Won
Golden Lion Kenneth Branagh Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Branagh. "Why did you make it in black and white?". Interview with Kenneth Branagh. 18 June 2006. Archived 6 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "A Midwinter's Tale". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  3. ↑ Ebert, Roger (23 February 1996). "A Midwinter's Tale". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Berardinelli, James. "A Midwinter's Tale". ReelViews. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
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