Margaret's Museum
| Margaret's Museum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Mort Ransen |
| Produced by | Marilyn A. Belec |
| Written by |
Sheldon Currie (story) Gerald Wexler & Mort Ransen (screenplay) |
| Starring |
Helena Bonham Carter Clive Russell Kate Nelligan |
| Music by | Milan Kymlicka |
| Cinematography | Vic Sarin |
| Editing by | Rita Roy |
| Distributed by | Astra Cinema |
| Release dates | September 13, 1995 |
| Running time | 114 min. |
| Country |
UK Canada |
| Language | English, Gaelic |
Margaret's Museum is a critically acclaimed 1995 British-Canadian dark film drama, directed by Mort Ransen and based on Sheldon Currie's novel The Glace Bay Miners' Museum.
Plot
Set in the 1940s in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, it tells the story of a young girl living in a coal mining town where the death of men from accidents in "the pit" (the mines) has become almost routine. Margaret MacNeil (Helena Bonham Carter) has already lost her father and an older brother and for her, life alone would be preferable to marrying a mine worker—that is until the charming Neil Currie (Clive Russell) shows up. Against the wishes of her hard-bitten mother (Kate Nelligan) they marry, but before long financial woes lead to his doing what every other uneducated young man does in the town: take a job underground. His death in the mine drives Margaret to a mental breakdown and in her surreal world she decides to create a "special" museum to the memories of all those who have died as a result of the horrific mining conditions.
Cast
- Helena Bonham Carter: Margaret MacNeil
- Clive Russell: Neil Currie
- Craig Olejnik: Jimmy MacNeil
- Kate Nelligan: Catherine MacNeil
- Kenneth Welsh: Angus MacNeil
- Andrea Morris: Marilyn
- Steven Murray: Mute Doctor #7 — 'The one with the forearms'
Production notes
Part of Margaret's Museum was filmed in the UK. It carried significance in the local area of Newtongrange, Scotland as the screen debut of local TV celebrity David MacBeath, who appeared as an extra in the film.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | San Sebastián International Film Festival | Best Film | Won | |
| Vancouver International Film Festival | Most Popular Canadian Film | Won | ||
| 1998 | Chlotrudis Awards | Helena Bonham Carter | Best Actress | Won |
| Fantasporto Awards | Best Actress | Won | ||
| 1996 | Genie Awards | Best Motion Picture | Nominated | |
| Mort Ransen | Best Achievement in Direction | Nominated | ||
| Clive Russell | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated | ||
| Helena Bonham Carter | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | Won | ||
| Kenneth Welsh | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role | Won | ||
| Kate Nelligan | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | Won | ||
| Nicoletta Massone | Best Achievement in Costume Design | Won | ||
| William Fleming David McHenry |
Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design | Nominated | ||
| Vic Sarin | Best Achievement in Cinematography | Nominated | ||
| Milan Kymlicka | Best Achievement in Music – Original Score | Won | ||
| Mort Ransen Gerald Wexler |
Best Screenplay | Won |
External links