Enduring Love
It’s not every day that you see a film a predatory homosexual that you could positively describe as entertaining but that is exactly what we have here in this low budget English psychological thriller. If you are still a little bamboozled as to why you enjoyed NOTTING HILL more than you know you should, then the reason may be manifest by these two films’ director Roger Michell. Even though the....
It’s not every day that you see a film a predatory homosexual that you could positively describe as entertaining but that is exactly what we have here in this low budget English psychological thriller. If you are still a little bamboozled as to why you enjoyed NOTTING HILL more than you know you should, then the reason may be manifest by these two films’ director Roger Michell. Even though the ENDURING LOVE is low budget, Michell’s approach is definitely big budget, squeezing every ounce of tension out of a great low key script, which is itself based on Ian McEwen’s book of the same name.
We are informed on the DVD’s extra features that the opening sequence and its pervading tone would be the key to whether this film would work or not. The good news is that it did and it does. Daniel Craig is having a picnic in the countryside with his girlfriend, played by Samantha Morton, before a hot air balloon invades their picturesque day and turns their world upside down, creating in Craig a moral quandary that by the films end has turned into a disastrous chain of events. Anyway, purposefully remaining vague, the ‘balloon situation’ occurs and puts Craig directly into contact with Rhys Ifans. As Craig has become obsessed with discovering the truth about what happened with the balloon, he agrees to meet Ifans again after he contacts him. Ifans though believes that something has passed between them and wants Craig to admit it. When he decides that Ifans is acting strangely, he tells him to politely leave him alone. Running concurrently to this is Craig and Morton’s relationship, a relationship that is fast evaporating. The more Craig becomes obsessed by Ifans attention, the more Morton feels she is losing him. Ifans then decides to tell Craig that he loves him, indeed that “gods love has passed between us”, before embarking on a full scale stalk and destroy mission. Ifans believes that if he can destroy Craig’s life with Morton then he will have no place to go but to him. A series of cleverly plotted situations then unfold before we reach a jaw dropping finale, a finale well worth enduring the rest of the film for, if you excuse the crap pun.
It is very clear from the film that we are watching a film that has been invested with a lot of thought and talent. Certain moments capture an atmosphere that could put many a Hollywood film to shame, as well as capturing a London that we are yet to see on the big screen, and a form of characterisation that we English are famed around the world for. As well as a tightly plotted story, we also have a narrative that fully explores the notion of ‘enduring love’ from the perspective of a few of the films key and smaller characters. Indeed the plot and narrative dance towards the final reel with such aplomb, that it is difficult to be anything other than engrossed in the unfolding events. As I have not read McEwen’s book, it is hard to comment on anything related but as a screenplay this is one of the better ones in recent British history, bar anything by Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, Lynne Ramsey, Michael Winterbottom, or Shane Meadows (minus the disgusting ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS, a project that managed to bring the worst out of the British Film Industry). The camera work is first rate and this film’s DVD transfer is at the higher end of the spectrum. Filled with light and dark changes, depending on the state of the story, the film manages to fully utilise most of the palette that the cinematographer has at his disposal to emphasise both plot and narrative points, whilst subtly controlling the atmosphere and mood that we are feeling. The music as well manages to successfully add to the films atmosphere, although what Michell calls the ‘Pastoral Theme’ does have the feeling of a Takeshi Kitano film about it, which I actually like, as an aside. Bill Nighy, the ever excellent, provides some light entertainment amongst the tension, proving once again that virtually anything that has him in has the potential to be a thing of quality.
As with the better films these days, this one comes packaged in a good quality DVD, with enough extras to make you think that we wont be getting a two discer sometime in the future after they have already made us part with one stack of cash.
DELETED SCENES (5 in total, running time: 6 mins 40 secs)
As with most deleted scenes, it is easy to see why most of these have been cut. There is one nice one when Daniel Craig is at his GP’s explaining the problems he is having but again it appears very expositional and just the kind of scene that could have tipped the balance of the film and helped detach many viewers from its more psychological anglings. There is also a scene where Craig goes to the cops and we are told the law on stalking and can see how uninvolved the police are. Maybe this is a good job or that sorry excuse for a singer from Abba may not have ended up meeting her new boyfriend and thus would have prevented another all to rare occurrence of natural beauty?
‘BURST’ – SHORT FILM (6 mins)
As much as I hate short films I am always open to being amazed by someone’s latest 5 minute wonder. However after leaving myself exposed again to a potential delight, I once again felt like throwing myself out of a window and slitting my wrists, whilst in freefall, just in case I survived the long odds of the fall itself. This ‘little gem’ was made on and around the set of ENDURING LOVE and includes most of the key cast from the film. Like most short films that have content concerning some element of the film making process, this one shows a lack of any type of connection with the real world, due to the fact that the film maker(s) seem to have next to nothing to say on any particular subject, other than trying to satisfy their peers with something slightly referential. This one concerns an actor with a big ego who is an absolute dick head. The film maker(s) are trying to make fun of this type of person but achieve nor add nothing to the wealth of information, both filmic and literature based, that already exists on the subject matter. However we do get Rhys Ifans pretending that he is really a well spoken English man, but if this is the best that someone can do for xxxxx thousand pounds, then maybe the money would be better spent by donating it to some anonymous charity in Africa. A special mention goes to the film maker Olivia Peniston who really should hang her head in shame and get a job in some factory somewhere, where there is a small chance she may find contact with some real members of the human race.
AN ACTORS STORY (7 mins)
Although only brief, there are some ok sound bites in this little featurette, concerning the reasons why the actors were chosen for the roles they play, as well as discussions around the characters themselves. Director Michell, Writer Joe Penhall and many of the actors offer little insights that are all split with clips from the film. It is hard to tell whether this is all Electronic Press Kit material, or if it is specially hacked together for DVD purposes. Michell states that it is a thriller about love, as it has thriller elements but it is really a film about the nature of love itself. Although this may sound rather naff, the path the film does take is very balanced and raises many questions, raising not only the ‘ain’t love grand’ element but also a much darker thought provoking path. The one thing for sure that this section is brief and without clips lasts around 4 mins.
THE FILM AND NOVEL (5 mins 30 secs)
A good little section where we encounter Ian McEwan for the first and only time on this DVD. He states that he “tried to devise a situation that would bring the films central characters running towards each other”, which was all stimulated by obsession, or more particularly, parallel obsessions of a different nature. Craig’s character for example was “drawn into an obsession that he doesn’t want to endure”, whilst Ifans is pursuing an obsession which be believes is ordained by god, or as he says in the film “gods love has passed between us”. On the section relating to the translation of book to film, McEwan states that “making a novel into a film is a demolition process”, whilst Michell states that he tried to film “a version of the book”. The verdict though from McEwan being that the film has travelled away from the book but managed to keep the essence. So, a money spinning winner in his eyes.
BALLOON FEATURETTE (5 mins)
This shows and discusses the filming of the aforementioned opening sequence. Michell tells us his concerns about the scene, as well as the process and evolution of the shot. From a film making point of view this is a nice little extra but from an overall perspective it is hard not to think what a full making of documentary would have been like, especially given Michell’s easy to understand language and obvious passion for film making as an art form. Again like all the short sections, the dialogue is mixed with shots, this time with some behind the scenes footage.
DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS COMMENTARY
One of the more likable commentaries on offer. Like Michell’s CHANGING LANES commentary, this is packed with interesting information that is connected to both this films story and its making. As we all know commentaries tread the dangerous path of being very very very tedious, self indulgent, entertaining or informative. This one falls into the latter category. Although his producer offers little sound bites or points out mundane issues, it is very much Michell who keeps the whole thing ticking along. We find out, although he doesn’t say where, that Ifans character has been placed in a few scenes where he is seen to stalk Craig’s character, but only from in the distance and without framing him to be clearly recognisable. For anyone wishing to watch this film again, I am sure this information will add another layer of menace to the overall film.
Michell also pays homage to most of his crew, without it ever sounding like pure name dropping. This is one director who knows that the films he directs don’t begin and end with his own presence; in fact that it is the best collaborative art form on the planet at present. He also provides us with some solid information on the sculptures that Morton’s character is seen to sculpt in the film. They really are quite striking pieces of art.
All in all, this one is worth listening to. Not only will you have the themes lucidly explained without ever getting boring, but you will also get a sense of what a director goes through when making a film (even though he doesn’t directly talk about himself), as well as some funny anecdotes, especially concerning Ifans and a few of the things he got up to on set.
In summary then, this is definitely a notch above the usual standard of films that we are always exposed to. It is a dark little thriller that explores the nature of love, and how it endures the most stringent of tests. The acting is first rate, technically it is more than competent and it packs a punch at the end. However the very last shot of the film undoes some of the fond feelings that I was having, although I will let you be the judge of that when you see it. I am sure that this is the type of film that most people will miss, however it had good critical praise when it came out, and even though we are in the UK they must have been promoting Hulk 2 the week this was released as it seemed to fade into the ether. This is the type of movie the UK seems to effortlessly produce when some of our Hollywood émigrés get serious and decide to make a real film in a real location and not in some fantasy land where actors are seen as people to aspire to. The atmosphere in ENDURING LOVE is very endearing, and particular stylish moments show that Michell is a real film maker with an eye for moments and not a by the book yes man who has less than 1 idea to rub together. The DVD is a tidy little package and I could rue all the things I would have liked to see on it, but I won’t. Eventually, you will come across this film and like it, so stop mucking about and secure yourself a copy via the most illegal means you have access to, and failing that give it a month or so and you’ll get yourself a real bargain on the net. This is one that will get you talking in the office or factory the next day. After all, if the statistics are correct maybe you will be working and explaining the film to the predatory homosexual who you work next to. So check out the psychology and get yourself tuned in before you end up accidentally pulling your curtains open and closed and giving him a signal that may potentially destroy your life.
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