In the Bleak Midwinter (film)

In the Bleak Midwinter
Directed by	Kenneth Branagh
Produced by	David Barron
Written by	Kenneth Branagh
Starring	Michael Maloney Richard Briers Hetta Charnley Joan Collins Nicholas Farrell Mark Hadfield Julia Sawalha
Music by	Jimmy Yuill
Cinematography	Roger Lanser
Edited by	Neil Farrell
Production company	Castle Rock Entertainment
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Classics
Release dates	10 September 1995
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

In the Bleak Midwinter (also known as A Midwinter's Tale) is a 1995 British romantic comedy written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Many of the roles in the film were written for specific actors. This was the first film directed by Branagh in which he did not appear.

The film begins with a monologue by out-of-work actor Joe Harper (Michael Maloney) about his slow decline into depression. In an attempt to beat his depression, Joe volunteers to help try to save his sister's local church from land developers for the community by putting on a Christmas production of Hamlet, somewhat against the advice of his agent Margaretta. As the cast he assembles are still available even at Christmas and are prepared to do it on a 'profit sharing' basis (that is, they may not get paid anything), he cannot expect – and does not get – the cream of the cream. But although they all bring their own problems and foibles along, something bigger starts to emerge in the perhaps aptly named village of Hope. This film encapsulates the hilarious and heartbreaking struggle of actor versus situation versus life, and often versus each other. It was shot in black and white for artistic effect.^[1]

Maloney, Richard Briers and Nicholas Farrell later had important roles in Branagh's 1996 film version of Hamlet. They played Laertes, Polonius and Horatio respectively.

Synopsis

The story is set in Hope, Derbyshire, England. It's Christmastime, and 'tis the season to put on Shakespeare's most cheery seasonal play: Hamlet. Joe Harper takes the project on as a Final Stand of sorts under the encouragement of his catty agent, advertising in the local newspaper for actors at a low price. From the rabble of actors both strange and untalented, he chooses the following:

Hamlet: Joe Harper himself.

Ophelia: Nina Raymond, a shortsighted well-meaning space cadet who has been using low-calorie mayonnaise for lotion because she can't make out the label.

King Claudius: Henry Wakefield, a long-suffering and cynical old Englishman with a sharp tongue and a list of prejudices five miles (8 km) long, forced to room with Queen Gertrude's player.

Queen Gertrude: Terry DuBois, a flamboyantly gay theatrical actor with an estranged son and a preoccupation for costume.

Laertes, Fortinbras, and various: Tom Newman, a vain, self-righteous method actor who foists his values on everyone else and attempts to distinguish his many characters with a variety of outrageous accents.

Horatio, Bernardo: Not-so-subtle Carnforth Greville, an alcoholic in denial and a kindly bachelor with no memory for lines whatsoever.

Polonius, Marcellus, and the First Gravedigger: Vernon Spatch, the ambitious techie's techie, self-imposed marketing director, and unofficial documentarian of the proceedings.

Set Designer: Fadge, just Fadge, specialising in new-age art and obscure statements about "air," "space," and "fog." Close friends call her "Fa".

Cast

• Michael Maloney as Joe Harper (Hamlet)
• Richard Briers as Henry Wakefield (Claudius, the Ghost, and the Player King)
• Hetta Charnley as Molly
• Joan Collins as Margaretta D'Arcy
• Nicholas Farrell as Tom Newman (Laertes, Fortinbras, and messengers)
• Mark Hadfield as Vernon Spatch (Polonius, Marcellus, and First Gravedigger)
• Gerard Horan as Carnforth Greville (Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Horatio, and Barnardo)
• Celia Imrie as Fadge
• Jennifer Saunders as Nancy Crawford
• Julia Sawalha as Nina Raymond (Ophelia)
• John Sessions as Terry Du Bois (Queen Gertrude)
• Ann Davies as Mrs. Branch
• James D. White as Tim
• Robert Hines as Mortimer
• Allie Byrne as Tap Dancer
• Adrian Scarborough as Young Actor
• Brian Pettifer as Ventriloquist
• Patrick Doyle as Scotsman
• Shaun Prendergast as Mule Train Man
• Carol Starks as Audience Member
• Edward Jewesbury as Nina's Father
• Katy Carmichael as Mad Puppet Woman (uncredited)

Reception

Critical response

The film was well received by the majority of critics and currently holds an 89% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[2]

Roger Ebert, noted critic of the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the film three out of four stars, praising the performances and Branagh's screenplay.^[3] Online critic James Berardinelli highly praised the film, giving it three-and-a-half out of four stars, stating, "No current film maker appears to love and understand Shakespeare as well as Branagh, and never has his affection for the Bard been more apparent than here. This picture succeeds as a comedy, a satire, and even, to a certain extent, as a mild melodrama about choosing between a paycheck and the nourishment of the soul." Berardinelli concluded, "Anyone who wondered about Branagh's future following Frankenstein can set their concerns to rest. He's back on top in the independent arena with A Midwinter's Tale, a film that offers ninety-eight minutes of pure fun re-interpreting the phrase 'the play's the thing'."^[4]

Accolades

References

External links

• In the Bleak Midwinter at the Internet Movie Database
• The film's official website
• The webpage for the script in book form from Newmarket Press