Themes: Star-Crossed Lovers, Political Unrest, Class Differences
Main Cast: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Jane Birkin, Fiona Shaw, Lambert Wilson
Release Year: 1998
Country: FR/UK/IE
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Love, politics, and class at once bring together and tear apart an extended family in this period drama. In 1920, Ireland is in the midst of a political upheaval, as upper class Anglo-Irish Protestants are driven from the country by the nation's increasingly vocal wishes Irish Catholic majority. Sir Richard Naylor (Michael Gambon) and his wife Lady Myra (Maggie Smith) are wealthy members of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy who slowly realize the life they've known in County Cork is coming to an end. Living with the Naylors are their financially-embarrassed friends Hugo and Francie Montmorency (Lambert Wilson and Jane Birkin); Marda Norton (Fiona Shaw), another friend who was one involved with Hugo; their nephew Laurence (Jonathan Slinger), a student at Oxford; and their niece Lois (Keeley Hawes). Lois is infatuated with Gerald (David Tennat), a British officer helping to mind the Naylors' property, though Myra believes he's beneath Lois' station; however, she's also keenly attracted to Connolly (Gary Lydon), an IRA soldier who is hiding in a mill on the estate. The Last September was based on the novel by Elizabeth Bowen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Like an exquisite ice sculpture, The Last September is beautiful to look at but icy to the touch. Drawn from Elizabeth Bowen's novel, September is impeccably designed and shot and filled with first class performances by a first rate cast. Yet it's so remote and detached that emotional involvement is precluded, which leads to disengagement and disinterest, despite admiration for its many exceptional parts. Director Deborah Warner has worked with her production crew to bring a meticulously detailed period look to the piece, and the atmosphere they create is simply marvelous. The cinematography by Slawomir Idziak is simply stunning, infused with an "aged in wood" glow that perfectly captures the melancholy autumn feel of the tale, and which perfectly captures the feel of the viewer eavesdropping on the scenes being played. In the crucial lead role Keeley Hawes employs every resource at her command, which she needs to do to keep up with the likes of the inimitable Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith and Fiona Shaw. Shaw is the standout, though all are wonderful; her "first among equals" status deriving from the fact that her character is the most interesting. And that points up the big flaw with September; despite the fact that the cast and creative team expend such effort in bringing nuance and detail to the proceedings, it is nuance and detail that serves to individualize without illuminate. Actions happen but the motivations and context are murky and vague, dulling the impact. What is left is an extremely handsome shell, easy to watch and admire but lacking in substance and force. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
David Tennant - Capt. Gerald Colthurst; Richard Roxburgh - Daventry; Keeley Hawes - Lois Farquar; Gary Lydon - Peter Connolly; Jonathan Slinger - Laurence Carstairs
Credit
Sara Giles - Associate Producer, Leo Davis - Casting, Marina Gefter - Co-producer, John Bright - Costume Designer, Deborah Warner - Director, Kate Evans - Editor, Georges Benayoun - Executive Producer, Neil Jordan - Executive Producer, Nik Powell - Executive Producer, Stephen Woolley - Executive Producer, Zbigniew Preisner - Composer (Music Score), Caroline Amies - Production Designer, Slawomir Idziak - Cinematographer, Dan Birch - Sound/Sound Designer, Elizabeth Anne Bowen - Book Author
