Review | DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES
March 17th 2000 00:50
FOX SEARCHLIGHT presents in association with the Isle of Man Commission
and Midsummer Films
DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES
Release Date: 30 March 2000 (Sydney & Melbourne)
CAST: Samantha Morton, Lee Toss, Miriam Margolyes, Frank Finlay, Nick Woodeson, Holly Aird, Rupert Graves.
This is a great film, beautifully made. Directed by ERIC STYLES. This gem of a film is yet another really good drama distributed by FOX SEARCHLIGHT who have brought us FELICIA'S JOURNEY and BOYS DON'T CRY. Hats off to them because so far I've really found a lot to love about each of these movies.
This film is set in Somerset, 1958. It's a very intimate story about a young woman Eva (Samantha Morton) and her relationship with Joseph Lees (Rupert Graves) as affected by her little twelve year old sister Janie (Lauren Richardson).
Even though Somerset has that end of the earth feeling about it and the most entertainment offered to the community is Friday night boxing, live in the ring with local lads gloved up and punching for blood Eva is a quietly spirited woman who seems one moment away from realising there's a change about to take foot for women's rights. She spends her time
working at the local saw mill and taking art classes in drawing with Signora Caldoni (Miriam Margolyes) a wonderful charcter who is everything one would hope an art class teacher could be. The rest of the time Eva is toiling at home either sewing and mending, cooking, or
parenting her little brother and sister. She lives with them and her father (Frank Finlay) whom she works for as housekeeper and compliant daughter.
All the time Eva dreams of Joseph Lees a beautiful man who lost a leg in a tragic accident. He has moved to Italy somewhere, but no one is really sure where he is. Eva is sure what he is - her true love, despite the gradual seduction of Harry (Lee Ross) the local pig farmer who has lost his own parents, "Ma was gone and Dad was out there hangin', like I would be, 'cause I'm like him!".
The young sister brilliantly played by Lauren Richardson is quite a little meddler. She manipulates Eva at times in ways that are almost telepathic, other times she opens mail for Eva and reads the contents before she givs it over all re-wrapped, sealed with angelic eyes and fingers. She is never malicious, it seems that she really is motivated by love, but her actions are vital to the unfolding of the plot. A wonderful young actor to watch - I should think we'll be seeing more of her work in the future. This role distinguishes her as quite a contender.
This whole film is a story about people being motivated by love and people being manipulated by love. Eva doesn't take long to move in with Harry and start sleeping with him, even though, as her father says "People will talk" it doesn't move Eva away from getting some love and
passion into her bleak life. Harry the pig farmer is an emotional mess. He gets a nose bleed whenever he gets nervous. He would possibly be the perfect guy for Eva if it weren't for Joseph Lees. Eva responds to the reality that Harry is available, Joseph is away somewhere, and pitied by most as if being a one-legged man means you are half a man. Harry's
emotional self-assurance is very strong, he sweet talks and dances Eva into his bed pretty easily.
When Harry discovers that Eva is 'in love' with Joseph Lees he goes into a frenzy of playing out the dramatic pattern of his parents' tragic life. Poor Harry is such an extremist he eventually breaks in to the saw mill and makes a quick job of emulating Joseph Lees.
Eva is torn between true love, and the love she settled for because she hadn't imagined there were any other options available.
I don't want to let anything out about the rest of the story. I do want to say that this film really struck me as being something of a historical fact. It could almost be the way half of the women on the planet were tied to their husbands (defacto or married) at the time. The
manipulation would be far more obvious today I imagine. I doubt a woman would be quite as alone today as Eva is. The isolation of the place is very strong. She's pretty much a slave to her situation - but she does break free, and not only in her dreams.
It's a really good film and it may well reach out and grab you as deeply it did me. I could see my own parents (from the UK) sort of going along and doing what they think is right at the time, only to discover that this isn't what they want. Well, half of 'them' anyway. The masculine force is very strong in the film, and the social/emotional pecking order is really precise. The extreme male behaviour is very childish, while the female behaviour is always so down to earth and realist that it's very matter-of-fact when it gets anything close to extreme. Really stimulating stuff.
A good drama unfolds - by that I mean a complex story, even though some times you may feel you know what's about to happen (probably because of Hollywood programing) it is not predictable as such. It is deeply moving without being manipulative, by the end of the drama you will have options yourself, and that is what makes it such a great entertainment.
I left the screening feeling quite overwhelmed, ready to be sad about it all, but then someone pointed out that I wasn't entertaining the other strong possibility provided. I think this gentle but savage film is as good, if not better than 'Snow Falling on Cedars' - very much in the same category. If you enjoyed Scott Hicks' masterpiece you will enjoy DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES.
Rupert Graves creates yet another character who is totally desireable. I admire his choices as an actor. He doesn't seem stuck in the same role again and again. Of course I think he's as hot as most other gay men, but he positively glows as Joseph Lees. His struggle, humility and
brilliance makes for a wonderful journey. Rupert's fabulous performance is matched by Samantha Morton who has played roles in PEAK PRACTICE, SOLDIER,SOLDIER and as the teenage prostitute in BAND OF GOLD apparently 'rocketed to fame' (in the UK).
Maybe the relationship between Eva and Janie is as good as it is because Morton is a young actor working with another younger actor Richardson, and she has been able to share some of her experience with the little sister... but whatever it is, the dynamic between these two will have many women pining for the days they had with their own little sister, and also probably reminding them of how they would have strangled her if they knew what she was up to. There should be a new category placed in the awards system - "Most distinguished performances in the role of siblings" - I nominate these two deft actors, fantastic job brilliantly
realised.
Screenwriter Catherine Linstrum, Director Eric Styles, Producer Chris Milburn all deserve credit for.... well will I say it again? A really good film!
David Jobling. 17.03.00
and Midsummer Films
DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES
Release Date: 30 March 2000 (Sydney & Melbourne)
CAST: Samantha Morton, Lee Toss, Miriam Margolyes, Frank Finlay, Nick Woodeson, Holly Aird, Rupert Graves.
This is a great film, beautifully made. Directed by ERIC STYLES. This gem of a film is yet another really good drama distributed by FOX SEARCHLIGHT who have brought us FELICIA'S JOURNEY and BOYS DON'T CRY. Hats off to them because so far I've really found a lot to love about each of these movies.
This film is set in Somerset, 1958. It's a very intimate story about a young woman Eva (Samantha Morton) and her relationship with Joseph Lees (Rupert Graves) as affected by her little twelve year old sister Janie (Lauren Richardson).
Even though Somerset has that end of the earth feeling about it and the most entertainment offered to the community is Friday night boxing, live in the ring with local lads gloved up and punching for blood Eva is a quietly spirited woman who seems one moment away from realising there's a change about to take foot for women's rights. She spends her time
working at the local saw mill and taking art classes in drawing with Signora Caldoni (Miriam Margolyes) a wonderful charcter who is everything one would hope an art class teacher could be. The rest of the time Eva is toiling at home either sewing and mending, cooking, or
parenting her little brother and sister. She lives with them and her father (Frank Finlay) whom she works for as housekeeper and compliant daughter.
All the time Eva dreams of Joseph Lees a beautiful man who lost a leg in a tragic accident. He has moved to Italy somewhere, but no one is really sure where he is. Eva is sure what he is - her true love, despite the gradual seduction of Harry (Lee Ross) the local pig farmer who has lost his own parents, "Ma was gone and Dad was out there hangin', like I would be, 'cause I'm like him!".
The young sister brilliantly played by Lauren Richardson is quite a little meddler. She manipulates Eva at times in ways that are almost telepathic, other times she opens mail for Eva and reads the contents before she givs it over all re-wrapped, sealed with angelic eyes and fingers. She is never malicious, it seems that she really is motivated by love, but her actions are vital to the unfolding of the plot. A wonderful young actor to watch - I should think we'll be seeing more of her work in the future. This role distinguishes her as quite a contender.
This whole film is a story about people being motivated by love and people being manipulated by love. Eva doesn't take long to move in with Harry and start sleeping with him, even though, as her father says "People will talk" it doesn't move Eva away from getting some love and
passion into her bleak life. Harry the pig farmer is an emotional mess. He gets a nose bleed whenever he gets nervous. He would possibly be the perfect guy for Eva if it weren't for Joseph Lees. Eva responds to the reality that Harry is available, Joseph is away somewhere, and pitied by most as if being a one-legged man means you are half a man. Harry's
emotional self-assurance is very strong, he sweet talks and dances Eva into his bed pretty easily.
When Harry discovers that Eva is 'in love' with Joseph Lees he goes into a frenzy of playing out the dramatic pattern of his parents' tragic life. Poor Harry is such an extremist he eventually breaks in to the saw mill and makes a quick job of emulating Joseph Lees.
Eva is torn between true love, and the love she settled for because she hadn't imagined there were any other options available.
I don't want to let anything out about the rest of the story. I do want to say that this film really struck me as being something of a historical fact. It could almost be the way half of the women on the planet were tied to their husbands (defacto or married) at the time. The
manipulation would be far more obvious today I imagine. I doubt a woman would be quite as alone today as Eva is. The isolation of the place is very strong. She's pretty much a slave to her situation - but she does break free, and not only in her dreams.
It's a really good film and it may well reach out and grab you as deeply it did me. I could see my own parents (from the UK) sort of going along and doing what they think is right at the time, only to discover that this isn't what they want. Well, half of 'them' anyway. The masculine force is very strong in the film, and the social/emotional pecking order is really precise. The extreme male behaviour is very childish, while the female behaviour is always so down to earth and realist that it's very matter-of-fact when it gets anything close to extreme. Really stimulating stuff.
A good drama unfolds - by that I mean a complex story, even though some times you may feel you know what's about to happen (probably because of Hollywood programing) it is not predictable as such. It is deeply moving without being manipulative, by the end of the drama you will have options yourself, and that is what makes it such a great entertainment.
I left the screening feeling quite overwhelmed, ready to be sad about it all, but then someone pointed out that I wasn't entertaining the other strong possibility provided. I think this gentle but savage film is as good, if not better than 'Snow Falling on Cedars' - very much in the same category. If you enjoyed Scott Hicks' masterpiece you will enjoy DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES.
Rupert Graves creates yet another character who is totally desireable. I admire his choices as an actor. He doesn't seem stuck in the same role again and again. Of course I think he's as hot as most other gay men, but he positively glows as Joseph Lees. His struggle, humility and
brilliance makes for a wonderful journey. Rupert's fabulous performance is matched by Samantha Morton who has played roles in PEAK PRACTICE, SOLDIER,SOLDIER and as the teenage prostitute in BAND OF GOLD apparently 'rocketed to fame' (in the UK).
Maybe the relationship between Eva and Janie is as good as it is because Morton is a young actor working with another younger actor Richardson, and she has been able to share some of her experience with the little sister... but whatever it is, the dynamic between these two will have many women pining for the days they had with their own little sister, and also probably reminding them of how they would have strangled her if they knew what she was up to. There should be a new category placed in the awards system - "Most distinguished performances in the role of siblings" - I nominate these two deft actors, fantastic job brilliantly
realised.
Screenwriter Catherine Linstrum, Director Eric Styles, Producer Chris Milburn all deserve credit for.... well will I say it again? A really good film!
David Jobling. 17.03.00
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