VeteranLight
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Mandeep Tyson
The acting in this movie is really good.
squirtycream
I can fully understand the majority of film watchers being a bit bored by this, and its fine, were all different in our thoughts and observations, I would never accuse them of sarcastically 'needing' more explosions/gun battles action etc to satisfy their requirements as I think any art is subjective and any opinion is valid. I wasn't bored at all, in fact I was absorbed by this movie, nothing happens, except an examination of family life, on an angst ridden and tension filled family holiday. Immature yet grown up children, with Edward taking the limelight, the overly needy sister playing up most of the time like some spoilt child, and poor slightly neurotic Mum trying her best to keep it all together, in the absence of a Father who couldn't (or didn't want to) get there. The scenery gives a lot of atmosphere, its a tad bleak (wonder why they didn't go in summer?) The Scilly Isles in November was perfect for the slightly gloomy and foreboding atmosphere. The self obsessed artist Chris tries to understand what is going on but keeps himself snug and warm in his own arty avant-garde pretensions. Its not a movie for everyone and if you hate it fair enough, but if you like slower pedestrian films that examine human relationships, if you can let yourself be drawn into their world, then I recommend you try it. I will be re-watching it.
donlemna
I watched this movie last night. I couldn't make out what the actors were saying most of the time(I'm old)so I'm not too sure what the movie was about. The mother was angry with someone when she was on the phone. There was emotion in that brief scene as well as elsewhere, I think. There was no storyline. It wasn't like War and Peace. However the acting was amazingly good and the movement hither and thither could be taken for real life. If they'd had a decent story--say a few murders in the basement--the movie would have steamrolled through the Oscars. I watched the whole thing and then I woke up. Cheers. Whoops. I need more lines. Okay. I liked the cook. She was blond. Okay, I give in. I think the movie had certain amazing elements. It really did seem like a slice of a real life. That's not necessarily good, unless it's about a piece of real life that's interesting. May I go now? Cheers, Don.
Earthmonkey16
This is a film about a family coming together for a holiday, well almost all the family.. The undercurrents of resentment, unhappiness, family strife are cringe worthy but not overacted or overexposed.The weather works well with the story, clouds and cold. The metaphor of watercolours as an on the surface not too intrusive thank you very much hobby for unhappy people.The treatment of the cook by the different members of the family illustrates their philosophy in life or how they see their role in society I do not remember the music which means it either was illustrative of the film or lacking..
David Sadler
Someone else noted 'Festen', a good reference point. The Joanna Hogg brand of social realism might work for a certain category of film festival attended by Guardian critics but small budget should not have to mean small impact. This was like being forced to watch Big Brother but the worse for having been duped into thinking that these witless, humourless, dunces might still break free from the great dollops of silence bolted on between one static camera shot and the next. The brief moment with that longing gaze at the carving knife as cook prepares to leave ...... that was the moment our long suffering and infinite patience might have been rewarded. Alas.
