Dir. John
Maybury, UK, 2008, 111 mins
Cast: Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Matthew Rhys, Cillian
Murphy
Review by Carol Allen
Producer Rebekah Gilbertson
knew as a child that there was a connection between her
grandparents Vera and William Killick and the poet Dylan
Thomas and his wife. While a student at the National Film
School she found out more about that connection and the
result several years later is "The Edge of Love".
Vera (Keira Knightley) was the poet's childhood sweetheart
in Wales. She and Dylan (Matthew Rhys) meet again in London,
where she is working as a cabaret singer during the Second
World War. They are still attracted to each other but Dylan
is now married to Caitlin (Sienna Miller), with whom despite
their unspoken romantic rivalry Vera forms a strong friendship.
Vera marries her devoted admirer William (Cillian Murphy)
and while he is away fighting, joins the Thomases, now in
Wales. When William returns home a war hero and a changed
man, the situation explodes into violence.
This is very much a story about young
people and youthful passion but the main focus is on the
implicitly ambiguous friendship between the two women.
Miller is particularly good as the free spirited and perceptive
Caitlin but well matched by Knightley, whose pure singing
voice, when we first meet her entertaining Londoners hiding
in the underground from the blitz, fits the "Vera Lynn" period
style. Rhys, whose put on a bit of weight for the role,
captures Dylan's charm and selfishness and Murphy is moving
as the gentle but later emotionally scarred William. The
script is by Knightley's mother, playwright Sharman Macdonald.
What the film won't tell you is a lot about Thomas the
poet. His poems when used don't seem to relate very much
to the action, but it's a minor flaw. Director John Maybury
gets the most out of his young actors and handles the sex
scenes with feeling and discretion. He also captures the
period well and gives the film a great physical beauty,
while never losing sight of the drama.
|
