The Edge of Love (2008)

Director:

John Maybury

Writer:

Sharman Macdonald (written by)

Release Date:

20 June 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

The only thing more dangerous than war... is love.

Plot:

Two feisty, free-spirited women are connected by the brilliant, charismatic poet who loves them both.

Plot Keywords:

Poet | Wales | Infidelity | Jealousy | Blitz

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Simon Armstrong	...	Wilfred Hosgood
Ben Batt	...	Sergeant
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Registrar
Rachel Bell	...	Midwife
Paul Brooke	...	Mr. Justice Singleton
Huw Ceredig	...	John Patrick
Richard Clifford	...	Alistair Graham
Richard Dillane	...	Lt Col David Talbot Rice
Joel Dommett	...	Train Soldier
Rachel Essex	...	Mel
Craig Gallivan	...	Sailor Beating Dylan
Callum Godfrey	...	Boy on Train
Simon Kassianides	...	Partisan
Keira Knightley	...	Vera Phillips
Anne Lambton	...	Anita Shenkin

Also Known As:

The Best Time of Our Lives (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality, language and disturbing war images.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:Unrated | Portugal:M/16 | USA:R (certificate #45422) | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

Producer Rebekah Gilbertson is the granddaughter of the real people played by Keira Knightley and Cillian Murphy in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When William Killick boards his transportation plane to Greece the C-47 Dakota shows (incorrectly) black and white "D-Day stripes" on fuselage and left wing. In the stock footage (probably ex-RCAF ZA947 operated by the "Battle of Britain Memorial Flight") used for the subsequent takeoff shot the C-47 has no markings at all neither on wings nor the fuselage's underbelly.

Quotes:

Caitlin MacNamara: Touch her and I'll kill you.
Dylan Thomas: Caitlin's territory, is it?
Caitlin MacNamara: Caitlin's friend.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Uned 5: (2008-06-20)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Careless Love

Slow, and a little soap-operatic, but stylish, and well acted.

Although I am very familiar with poet Dylan Thomas, I know nothing of his life. Whatever his life and specifically his marriage involved, I would imagine that The Edge of Love (based on the novel) manipulates things a bit, but unless you are a historian or a poet, who cares.

The movie is less about Thomas and more focused on the two most important women in his life. One is his wife Kathrine, and the other is Vera who was his first love. One romantic night on the beach as youths is something that both have tried to put behind them but cannot, now grown up they are good friends. I forgot to mention that this is set during the war. Vera becomes engaged to Captain Will Killing who he gets her pregnant and leaves for war. While he is away, Vera starts to fall for Thomas again, and Kathrine has fallen out of love with him. She is also carrying another man's child. Things get even more emotionally complex when Capt Killig returns

As you can see, it is a very soap operatic plot, and it takes shape in a fairy drab slow manner, with perhaps one too many sequences of sappy dialogue. But all is not lost yet. For a non- Hollywood production, I think that the Edge of Love is about as stylish a picture as one can get. It is certainly more dimensional and intelligent than about 90% of contemporary romances, Hollywood production or not. Some of it has to do with being set during the war, which sets up emotional conflict that feels more convincing and less artificial, a bit like Atonement. this one features acting and cinematography of equal talent to Joe Wright's Oscar nominee, but it is in far greater need for stable pacing and progression. Things are okay at the start and finish, but the middle section is where your attention span may be tested, unless you are deeply and profoundly rooted in the story.

I doubt if The Edge of Love will have that kind of an effect on the viewer, but is a good film to check. it might even make a good date night movie, considering it is so much smarter than the chick flicks that boyfriends are forced to endure today.